Editor’s notice: The next article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the creator’s personal. Learn extra opinions on theGrio
In 2020, when he was formally declared as the subsequent president of the USA, Joe Biden despatched a transparent message to Black America: I’ve your again.
Now, with lower than two weeks to go till Inauguration Day, President Biden nonetheless has the chance to cement his progressive legacy, and ship on three crucial guarantees he made to our group.
First, clemency.
Final month’s historic announcement from the White Home — commuting almost each federal demise row inmate — was welcomed information for the vacations, bringing justice and therapeutic to numerous households throughout the nation. Not like the ultimate days of Trump’s first time period — the place Trump oversaw an expedited “spree of executions” — President Biden is prioritizing true justice.
Nonetheless, whereas these actions are vital on plenty of ranges, these actions alone should not sufficient to deal with the centuries of injustice and mass incarceration that Black communities have needed to reside with.
Proper now, Black individuals make up about 14% of the entire inhabitants however account for 39% of these in federal jail.
Granting clemency to these serving sentences that may be a lot shorter in the event that they had been sentenced at this time have to be a high precedence for the president. As an example, though the present Division of Justice has ended the extensively condemned crack vs. powder cocaine sentencing disparity, far too many Black People who had been sentenced earlier than the coverage modified stay incarcerated. Moreover, many individuals whose sentences would have been diminished if the First Step Act had been made totally retroactive stay behind bars. And nonetheless, many others stay ineligible for consideration for compassionate launch just because they had been sentenced earlier than November 1987 underneath the “previous legislation.” The vast majority of these people have probably spent many years behind bars and plenty of are nearing or previous the age of retirement.
President Biden wouldn’t be ranging from scratch on consideration of clemency petitions. By prioritizing taking motion on the greater than 7,000 purposes that the NAACP has advocated for and which have been vetted and really useful by the Workplace of the Pardon Legal professional, President Biden can transfer ahead to present individuals second probabilities and prioritize public security.
Clemency is about a lot greater than pardoning any particular person. It’s about strengthening communities and reuniting households.
Subsequent, pupil debt.
In his closing weeks in workplace, President Biden has additionally prioritized financial justice by resuming rounds of pupil debt cancellation.
At this time, hundreds of thousands of pupil debt debtors are actually debt-free or maintain quite a bit much less debt due to President Biden’s govt actions of the previous 4 years. Nevertheless it can not cease now.
In lower than 14 days, Trump will probably be sworn in. As soon as his tariffs kick in, costs will go up — and, per regular, Black People will disproportionately really feel the monetary squeeze between out-of-control curiosity on their pupil debt and the rising value of necessities.
Already, Black households in the USA maintain, on common, ten instances much less wealth than white households. This racial wealth hole will not be merely a relic of America’s racist previous, however the final result of ongoing systemic racism. At this time, Black People nonetheless earn 30% much less on common than white People.
On high of that, information confirmed that 4 years after graduating, Black graduates owe a mean of 188% extra in pupil mortgage repayments than white graduates.
That’s why the NAACP mobilized tens of hundreds of People round this trigger. We urged President Biden to take motion — and he did by canceling greater than $180 million in pupil debt, regardless of opposition from right-wing forces. We labored with the Division of Training to roll out crucial packages and postpone reimbursement after the pandemic.
Finally, schooling needs to be the important thing to monetary freedom, not the barrier. And we firmly imagine that, in America, everybody ought to have equitable entry to schooling.
Now, with simply weeks left, President Biden has the chance to attenuate the monetary hardships that so many People will really feel underneath Donald Trump by assuaging — or canceling altogether — the burden of pupil debt.
That begins by firing MOHELA, one among America’s largest holders and providers of pupil loans. MOHELA has gotten in the way in which of President Biden’s SAVE plan, which might assist hundreds of thousands of debtors.
By instructing the Division of Training to fireside MOHELA, President Biden can resume actions on pupil debt aid.
Lastly, police accountability.
For too lengthy, Black People have been the victims of mindless police violence.
In 2022, with the stroke of a pen, President Biden signed an govt order in honor of George Floyd that created a public database of police misconduct. Because the starting of his administration, the Division of Justice has additionally opened greater than a dozen pattern-or-practice investigations of systemic misconduct with legislation enforcement companies.
We’re urging President Biden to incorporate the findings of these investigations within the public database, delivering on his promise to result in extra transparency and accountability in policing.
The president’s database and obligatory investigations into legislation enforcement will function a mannequin for native and state legislation enforcement companies.
Collectively, these three actions will get us nearer to a extra excellent union, and guarantee a freer and safer America for all.
President Biden, we urge you to take motion earlier than it’s too late. With lower than two weeks left of your presidency, you’ve the chance to make a significant distinction within the lives of hundreds of thousands — and to take action earlier than Donald Trump steps again into the White Home.
Mr. President, the time is now.
Derrick Johnson is the nationwide president and CEO of the Nationwide Affiliation for the Development of Coloured Folks (NAACP).
