FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 17, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: brian.phillips@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — Today, First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced legislation calling for the exoneration of Marcus Garvey and identifying him as a champion for the liberation of people of African descent. 

“The world deserves to know the truth about Marcus Mosiah Garvey and the truth about Black history. I was raised under the teachings of Marcus Garvey. I was raised to believe that we must come together to do the necessary work to improve our communities. And I was raised with the Garvey commitment to social service, including an abundance of faith in God,” said Rep. Clarke. “It’s time to reclaim Garvey’s legacy and accomplishments as a human rights activist before Congress, America, and the world. This resolution exonerates Garvey of his unfounded charges and calls upon President Biden to recognize and denounce the racist smears against him and his legacy. America must right these wrongs and restore Garvey’s legacy. And the time to do it is now.“ 

“The exoneration of Marcus Garvey is an idea whose time has come,” said Rep. Johnson. “The utter lack of merit to the charges on which he was originally convicted, combined with his profound legacy and contributions to Black history in our country – it’s time to right this fundamental wrong. I’m honored to cosponsor this important resolution with my esteemed colleague Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, particularly during Black History Month and as the campaign to exonerate Marcus Garvey has been steadily growing, it’s time to correct this injustice.”

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican-born Black nationalist and leader of the Pan-Africanism movement, which sought to unify and connect people of African descent worldwide. In the United States, he was a noted civil rights activist who founded the Negro World newspaper, a shipping company called Black Star Line, and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. The resolution hails Garvey as a human rights activist. It seeks to preserve Mr. Garvey’s legacy by exonerating him of unfounded charges brought against him by the US government and calls for the President to take necessary action towards clearing his name.

Read the full bill text here. 

###