Historic News: Clemency for 2,500 Americans Impacted by Over-Incarceration!
John,
Today marks a historic moment in the fight for justice. During his final days in office, President Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 Americans convicted under outdated and unjust crack cocaine laws. This record-breaking act of clemency—the largest single-day action in modern U.S. history—offers hope and a fresh start to individuals who have spent years incarcerated due to extreme sentencing disparities.
For too long, crack cocaine offenses have been punished 18 times more harshly than powder cocaine offenses, despite being two forms of the same substance. This policy has disproportionately impacted Black communities, where incarceration rates are six times higher than those of white Americans, even though usage rates are comparable.
Dream.Org has spent the last four years fighting to close this sentencing gap through the EQUAL Act, a bill that would establish 1:1 penalties for crack and powder cocaine. While the bill did not pass during Biden’s term, we urged the administration to act through clemency—and they did.
Today, during one of his final days in office, President Biden commuted nearly 2,500 sentences for Americans with nonviolent crack cocaine offenses, making a new record for the largest single-day act of clemency in modern American history. Each and every one of those granted clemency today are victims of the extreme sentencing and over-incarceration policies of the racist, long-lost War on Drugs. Now, they have a chance to start over again & rebuild their lives.
You can read our full statement on today’s historic action here.
Today’s latest win marks a trifecta of good news!
With your support, we worked to pressure the president to use his presidential pardon power before he left office and he did. Look at what we achieved:
- December 12th: Clemency granted to nearly 1,500 individuals in the CARES Home Confinement program, ending their custodial sentences and reuniting them with their families.
- December 23rd: Sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row commuted to life in prison, sparing them from execution.
- January 17th: Clemency for 2,500 individuals convicted under the discriminatory War on Drugs sentencing policies.
These victories show what we can do, if we work together, but there’s more work ahead.
The next administration has pledged to be "tough on crime," threatening to undo progress with punitive policies that harm communities rather than heal them. At Dream.Org, we are more determined than ever to push for bold reforms like the EQUAL Act and defend against harmful new legislation.
Thank you for being a part of Dream.Org. Together, we are making history—and building a better future.
With gratitude and determination,
— Dream.Org
