US President Joe Biden on Sunday posthumously pardoned Jamaica’s first National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the organizer of a mass black rights movement, the Universal Negro Improvement Association, who was convicted on charges largely believed to have been bogus in the United States in the 1920s.
Garvey was convicted of mail fraud and sent to prison. His sentence was commuted by President Calvin Coolidge in 1927 and he was deported to his homeland, Jamaica.
Garvey was credited as a huge influence on Dr Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and other civil rights leaders.
Dr King said of Garvey: “He was the first man, on a mass scale and level” to give millions of Black people “a sense of dignity and destiny.”
Black Congressional leaders, including Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, had pushed for Biden to pardon Garvey.
The asserted that Garvey’s conviction was politically motivated and an effort to silence the increasingly popular leader who spoke of racial pride.
Biden't statement
"Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887-1940) was a renowned civil rights and human rights leader who was convicted of mail fraud in 1923, and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. President Calvin Coolidge commuted his sentence in 1927. Notably, Mr. Garvey created the Black Star Line, the first Black-owned shipping line and method of international travel, and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, which celebrated African history and culture. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. described Mr. Garvey as “the first man of color in the history of the United States to lead and develop a mass movement.'
"Advocates and lawmakers praise his global advocacy and impact, and highlight the injustice underlying his criminal conviction."
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness responds
"The Jamaican Government welcomes the posthumous pardon of our National Hero the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey. We consider this as a first step in the total exoneration, absolution and expungement of a historical wrong done to one of the most significant civil rights leader and Pan Africanist. Our Administration has passed the National Heroes and other Freedom Fighters (Absolution from Criminal Liability in Respect of Specified Acts) Act 2018, to clear the records of our National Heroes who were wrongfully accused and convicted in the struggle for our freedom.
"I want to thank President Biden for his consideration in this matter. It has been a long and persistent struggle and I would also like to thank the Garvey family, particularly Julius and the UNIA, all the private citizens who signed various petitions, friends of Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora who lobbied the US Government, and indeed successive Governments of Jamaica who have been consistent in officially requesting this consideration from the Government of the United States."
Opposition Leader Mark Golding
"I acknowledge with pleasure President Biden’s exoneration of Jamaican National Hero and Panafricanist, the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey who was arrested and imprisoned in 1923 when he was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to five years in prison. Appeals followed and Mr Garvey was imprisoned from 1925-1927 as US President Calvin Coolidge commuted the sentence and had him deported.
"Marcus Garvey’s exoneration corrects a grave historical misscarriage of justice that resultedfrom an illegal, intelligence-led operation designed to disable the influential 19th century Pan-Africanist movement the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), that had captured the imagination of hundreds of thousands of people of African descent.
"President Biden’s action acknowledges the profound impact that Garvey had in shaping the narratives of freedom, equality, and justice. Garvey’s principles of unity and self-determination served to solidify and embolden the mandate of social justice movements in Africa and its diaspora; and will also encourage a new generation of Pan Africanist advocates to assume a mantle of leadership with a renewed sense of purpose. 2
"The decision is a call to action to African peoples to advance the agenda that Mr. Garvey was promoting
over a century ago.It is a vindication of the principles for which Garvey stood.
"Marcus Garvey, a visionary and an extraordinary Panafricanist, played a pivotal role in advocating for the empowerment and upliftment of African peoples globally. A Jamaican by birth, Garvey’s influence transcended borders, inspiring countless individuals to take pride in their heritage, reclaim their identity, and strive for the liberation of their peoples. His ideas continue to resonate today, calling us to action and urging us to recognize our shared responsibility towards one another.
"Marcus Garvey’s philosophies were deeply ingrained in the civil rights movements across our region and beyond. His call for a universal African identity, a call for Africans to embrace their true selves and work together for the betterment of their communities, remains as vital today as it was during the early 20th century. We have witnessed the impact of his teachings in our local contexts, inspiring generations to stand up for their rights and demand justice.
"While grave issues of inequity and imbalance continue to face African peoples and the Diaspora, this action provides a beacon of hope— and is an emblem of resilience and determination. Action, self-reliance, the vision of self and the future have been the only means by which the oppressed have seen and realized the light of their own freedom.
"Let us continue to draw inspiration from his life and work, pushing forward with strength and unity as we strive for a brighter, more just future for all. The willingness to right historical wrongs not only restores honour to Marcus Garvey but also paves the way for future dialogues on race, equality, and justice. Let us honour this legacy by working together towards a more equitable and inclusive world."
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