We thank President Biden for using his pardon authority to respond to our demands and call on him to further protect protesters and democracy itself.
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[December 13, 2024 – Washington, D.C.] After weeks of demands from advocacy organizations and frontline activists in the Black Lives Matter movement, President Biden has done the right thing by exercising his clemency and pardon powers for people with non-violent convictions.
Protest movements from Syria to South Korea, Bangladesh to Gaza, remind us that the power of protest, organizing, and civil disobedience is more potent than ever. In that light, Black Lives Matter released the following statement:
“We’re encouraged to see our demands being met by action in a time where President Biden’s legacy is on the line, and he has the chance to exhaust his executive authority before Donald Trump assumes the presidency for a second time. We already know what a Trump presidency looks like: mass protests in the streets and brutal crackdowns by law enforcement. In 2020, more than 300 protesters were hit with federal charges for standing up against police violence. Trump used his power to target dissent, silence movements, and criminalize those fighting for justice.
This time, it will be worse. Protests for Palestinians, Black liberation, climate justice, immigrant rights, and protecting democracy will bring millions into the streets. And we know Trump’s response will be even harsher.
Trump’s hypocrisy will no doubt be on display, as he mulls pardons of those responsible for the violent coup attempt on January 6th, 2021, he’ll simultaneously be targeting organizations and individuals protesting peacefully.
President Biden has the power to act right now.
He can issue preemptive pardons to protect those who will resist Trump’s autocratic regime. These pardons can shield activists from federal charges designed to crush movements for freedom and justice.
If Biden is willing to preemptively pardon elites, why not use that same power for the people? Protecting protesters is protecting democracy itself.
This is Biden’s moment to flip the script. He can stand with the people who fight for justice, or he can leave them to be targeted by an authoritarian administration. The choice is his—but the time to act is now.
We commend President Biden for his recent pardons, a step toward addressing systemic injustices. However, there is more to be done.
We urge the President to extend pardons to those targeted with federal charges during the 2020 uprisings for racial justice. Additionally, we call on him to issue proactive pardons for all peaceful protesters who may face federal charges while resisting the incoming administration’s attacks on racial justice, democracy, climate action, and other critical issues.
Protecting the right to protest is essential for safeguarding democracy and justice. President Biden has the power to ensure that those fighting for a better future are not criminalized. We call on him to act boldly before leaving office.”
About Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
Our mission is to work inside and outside of the system to heal the past, re-imagine the present, and invest in the future of Black lives through policy change, education, healing justice, and a commitment to the arts. Our vision is to imagine a world where Black people across the diaspora thrive, experience joy, and are not defined by their struggles.
