Legacy Civil Rights Leaders Applaud President Biden's Historic Action on Clemency, Urge Further Action to Solidify His Racial Justice Legacy

WASHINGTON, DC (December 12, 2024) - The heads of eight legacy civil rights organizations commend President Joe Biden for his unwavering commitment to racial equity and congratulate him on today’s historic decision to commute the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals and grant pardons to 39 more. This action reflects his dedication to addressing systemic inequities, a hallmark of his presidency.

From the very beginning of his administration, President Biden has made racial equity a cornerstone of his agenda, with bold efforts to invest in underserved communities, tackle health disparities, and reduce inequities caused by structural racism.

We celebrate the encouraging step taken today and urge the President to continue using his constitutional authority to redress the profound harms caused by mass incarceration. As we shared in a letter sent to President Biden last month, we call on him to continue to prioritize commutations for individuals who have been disproportionately harmed by systemic inequities in our federal justice system, including those on federal death row—a punishment disproportionately inflicted on people of color.

President Biden has a unique opportunity to cement his racial justice legacy. As the window for action narrows, we encourage him to seize this moment to ensure lasting progress in the fight for equity and justice.
 

Marc H. Morial
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Urban League
 

Reverend Al Sharpton
Founder and President
National Action Network
 

Melanie Campbell
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Black Women’s Roundtable 
 

Derrick Johnson 
President and Chief Executive Officer
NAACP
 

Janai Nelson
President and Director-Counsel
NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc.
 

Damon Hewitt 
President and Executive Director
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
 

Maya Wiley 
President and Chief Executive Officer 
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights 
 

Shavon Arline-Bradley 
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Council of Negro Women