President Biden Grants Clemency to 11 People Serving Disproportionately Long Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenses to Address Racial Disparities in the Justice System

On May 1, 2023, President Joe Biden attended a reception at the White House to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr. During the event, the President announced that he would be granting clemency to 11 people who were serving disproportionately long sentences for non-violent drug offenses.

The clemency is intended to rectify racial disparities in the justice system, and will apply to those convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana in Washington, D.C. and on federal lands and in the District of Columbia. The President noted that those with crack cocaine convictions “would not be serving the same sentence as someone convicted of powder cocaine.”

The White House event was held to mark Eid al-Fitr, which is celebrated by Muslims worldwide for the end of the month-long Ramadan. President Biden’s clemency is part of his broader effort to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

The clemency is a step towards providing justice to those who have been disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system. It is also a recognition of the need to address the systemic racism that has been embedded in the system for decades. It is hoped that this clemency will be a step towards a more equitable and just society.