Marcus Garvey’s family seeks support for presidential pardon

Dr. Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey spoke at a June 24th press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Dr. Garvey announced that a petition has been filed with the Justice Department on behalf of his father, Marcus M. Garvey,who in 1923, was indicted for mail fraud by a U.S. Court. His son, Dr. Garvey, is seeking a Posthumous Presidential Pardon from President Barack Obama for that conviction.
Dr. Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey spoke at a June 24th press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Dr. Garvey announced that a petition has been filed with the Justice Department on behalf of his father, Marcus M. Garvey,who in 1923, was indicted for mail fraud by a U.S. Court. His son, Dr. Garvey, is seeking a Posthumous Presidential Pardon from President Barack Obama for that conviction.

Marcus Garvey’s family seeks support for presidential pardon

By Safiyyah Muhammad

The family of Marcus Mosiah Garvey is seeking support from the public for a petition to secure a posthumous presidential pardon for the civil rights pioneer. The White House’s We the People platform said the petition needs 100,000 signatures by September 28th to generate a response from the Obama administration to pardon Garvey, who in 1923, was indicted for mail fraud by a U.S. Court, according to a PR Newswire report.

During a time when Blacks were seen as second class citizens, Garvey led a mass movement to elevate the Black community through economic empowerment and independence. He was convicted after being targeted by J. Edgar Hoover and deprived of a fair trial, according to content on We the People website. Garvey’s sentence was later commuted by President Calvin Coolidge on

recommendation by the U.S. Attorney General and with the support of 9 of the 12 jurors who voted to convict. Garvey never abandoned his movement to empower people of the African diaspora and he was recognized as a forbearer of the Civil Rights Movement by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X. Today, his legacy is celebrated the world over, according to a statement found on We the People website.

“Congressional efforts have been made on Capitol Hill in 1987 to get Mr. Garvey pardoned. Other efforts were launched that were not as thorough as the new Justice4Garvey petition that we are working on. It is my hope and prayer that we will get the necessary signatures,” said Anthony Pierce, Litigation Attorney who partners with the Law Office of Akins, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP. Pierce is given credit for initiating the Justice4Garvey petition effort.

After more than 30 years, Julius W. Garvey, M.D., son of Marcus Garvey, along with civil organizations, and Congressional members have fought to clear Garvey’s name. The Justice4Garvey petition became public knowledge on August 17th during a news conference at the National Press Club where Dr. Garvey spoke, announcing that the petition had been filed with the Justice Department June 24th of this year, a PR newswire report said.

During Dr. Garvey’s speech, he spoke of the difficulties of having to grow up with the fact that his father was a convicted criminal according to a PR newswire press release. With widespread support, the 100,000 signatures will erase Garvey’s

conviction.

In an interview, Attorney Pierce stated why it is necessary for the public to get involved in the petition drive. “The petition should be supported because Marcus Garvey was considered by civil rights leaders to be the father of the Civil Rights Movement.

Garvey was a threat to J. Edgar Hoover. Many of Marcus Garvey’s tactics and efforts were adopted by various leaders in the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s. Old and young folks should recognize his contributions, and he should not have on his record a conviction based on falsehoods,” he said.

The public can get involved by first signing the petition posted at whitehouse.gov, according to the Justice4Garvey website. The website also instructs participants to encourage family, friends and professional colleagues to support the cause. According to content on the site, when 100,000 signatures are

gathered, the White House is required to issue a response. At Chicago Citizen’s press time, the petition has gathered 3,061 signatures according to a Justice4Garvey website. To read more about the petition, supporters for the Garvey pardon may log on to www.justice4garvey.com.

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