Rep. Meeks and Colleagues Send New Letter to Pres. Obama Requesting a Posthumous Pardon for Boxing Great, Jack Johnson
Rep. Meeks and Colleagues Send New Letter to Pres. Obama Requesting a Posthumous Pardon for Boxing Great, Jack Johnson
New York, NY– Today, U.S. Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and Peter King (R-NY) joined U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Harry Reid (D-NV) in sending another letter (below) to President Barack Obama asking him to issue a posthumous pardon to boxing legend John Arthur “Jack” Johnson. The above Members of Congress originally passed through both Houses a resolution that expressed the sense of Congress that Johnson should receive a pardon. As an original cosponsor of that legislation, Congressman Meeks issued a statement regarding the new letter to President Obama:
“As the first African-American Heavyweight Boxing Champion, John Arthur ‘Jack’ Johnson is truly a legend whose contributions to history extend far beyond his boxing career. In the face of discrimination in both his personal life and athletic career, his determination earned him great success. His achievements inspired African-Americans, encouraging them to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness. His racially charged conviction is a stain on his record and on that of the United States. Thus, it is especially important and timely to restore his reputation and remove this stain, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of his death.
In the same spirit that Jack Johnson fought, I thank my colleagues for their relentless determination to give his family peace of mind and restore his full honor.
In 1913 John Arthur “Jack” Johnson was charged under the Mann Act for transporting his Caucasian girlfriend across state lines, which tarnished his reputation and boxing career. Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Representative Peter King, Senator Harry Reid, and Senator John McCain fought to include language for a posthumous pardon for Jack Johnson in the Every Student Exceeds Act, which was signed into law on December 10, 2015. However, the request has yet to be granted.
*Text of the Letter*
June 30, 2016
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Obama,
We write once again to bring your attention to the ongoing injustice of John Arthur “Jack” Johnson’s racially-motivated conviction, now over a hundred years old. As you know, Jack Johnson, a boxing legend and the first African-American Heavyweight Boxing Champion, had his character and achievements marred when he was unjustly convicted under the Mann Act in 1913 for transporting his white girlfriend across state lines.
Congress, taking notice of this improper and unfair conviction, has passed multiple resolutions over the years calling for the posthumous pardon of Jack Johnson. Most recently, the Every Student Succeeds Act, which you signed into law on December 10, 2015, included a provision expressing the sense of Congress that this boxing great should receive a posthumous pardon. And, just last week, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights unanimously voted to request that you “right this century-old wrong” and pardon Jack Johnson.
This month marks the 70th anniversary of Jack Johnson’s death. While it is unfortunate that this unjust conviction was not corrected during the boxer’s lifetime, a posthumous pardon today represents the opportunity to reaffirm Jack Johnson’s substantial contributions to our society and right this historical wrong. We urge you to grant this posthumous pardon.
Sincerely,
John McCain
Harry Reid
Peter King
Gregory Meeks