December 14th 2024.
This week, as he prepares to leave office next month, President Joe Biden made a sweeping clemency move by pardoning a longtime Denver community leader who has been an anti-violence advocate for years. Johnnie Williams, the 58-year-old head of Denver's Gang Rescue and Support Project (GRASP), was granted a pardon on Thursday. This was in response to his 1999 conviction for assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado and a press release from the White House. At the time, he was sentenced to 12 months of probation in a federal case.
The White House's announcement highlighted Williams' dedication to his community through volunteering and serving in his church. He has been recognized with numerous awards for his charitable work, including one that honors individuals who work with young men of color. Those who know him describe Williams as honest, loyal, and compassionate. When asked for comment, Williams confirmed to The Denver Post that he had indeed received the pardon, but did not elaborate further.
Williams has been a prominent figure in the fight against gang violence in Denver for many years and took on the role of GRASP's leader in 2020, after joining the program in 2008. GRASP, which is primarily run by former gang members, focuses on intervening with at-risk youth who are either involved in gangs or at risk of joining one. Jason McBride, who worked at GRASP for four years and now heads his own nonprofit, McBride Impact, expressed his support for the pardon on Thursday, saying that it was well-deserved.
"He's a role model for those of us who may have had a troubled past but have turned our lives around for the better," McBride shared. "He is a true advocate for the community and sees the good in every person, even those who may not deserve it."
Williams' pardon was one of 39 granted by President Biden on Thursday to individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes. Additionally, he also commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The commutations are for those who have completed at least one year of home confinement after being released. The high number of releases was due to the severe spread of the virus in prisons, with at one point, one in every five inmates testing positive, according to The Associated Press.
President Biden announced that he would be taking more steps in the following weeks and would continue to review clemency petitions. The second-largest single-day act of clemency was by former President Barack Obama, who granted 330 in 2017, shortly before leaving office.
In a statement, President Biden emphasized the importance of second chances and the promise of possibility that America was built on. He expressed his privilege in granting mercy to those who have shown remorse and rehabilitation, giving them the opportunity to be productive members of society and addressing sentencing disparities for nonviolent offenders, particularly those convicted of drug offenses.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Make sure to sign up to receive daily crime news in your inbox.
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