On his final day in office, President Biden granted pardons and commuted sentences for several individuals, emphasizing second chances as a core American value.

Biden set a record for clemency, having commuted nearly 2,500 sentences earlier in the week.

Among those pardoned were Marcus Garvey, posthumously, and advocates Ravi Ragbir and Kemba Smith Pradia.

Don Scott, the first Black Speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates, also received clemency after serving seven years for drug charges, CBS News has reported.

Biden’s actions follow earlier mass clemencies, including a large-scale commutation in December.

Written by B.C. Begley