(Black PR Wire) Wilmington, Delaware – The Center for Global Africa (CGA) convened leaders and community members on a cold afternoon, January 2, 2025, at the historic Peter Spencer Plaza to add their voices to national and international calls for the exoneration of Marcus Mosiah Garvey and to commemorate Haitian Independence Day, January 1, 1804.

Over the past ten years, the United Nations International Decade for people of African Descent provided a framework to foster restorative and reparative action by nations and states and for the first time several have taken legislative and policy actions as well as other measures to specifically address issues, historical and current, faced by people of African descent. The President of the United States has an opportunity to address a historic injustice.

“Today, we gather to affirm the legacy of one of history’s greatest visionaries and practitioners and to confirm the historical and contemporary fact that Marcus Garvey’s legacy should be validated, not criminalized,” stated Prof. Ezrah Aharone, Founder & Chair of the Center for Global Africa. Delaware’s Black citizens represent roughly 22% of the population and over 50% in the City of Wilmington. Overwhelmingly Black voters in Delaware have supported Biden throughout his 40+year career in government. They are now appealing to Biden to pay closer attention to the voices in Delaware advocating for equity and justice as he prepares to leave office. Bishop Silvester S. Beaman, who delivered the inaugural benediction for the President on January 20, 2021, serves as the 12th Episcopal AME District and President of the AME Council of Bishops and currently Chairs the White House Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement, joined the voices of leaders expressing “this is the right thing to do, the right time and right now we encourage our President, Joseph R. Biden to exonerate our HERO”.

Alicia Clark, the producer of The Garvey Legacy Film project read the family statement from Nzinga Garvey. Ms. Garvey said “My grandfather’s conviction was not only a miscarriage of justice but a reminder of how the overreach of power can be weaponized to silence the voices that seek fairness, equity and accountability. Marcus Garvey’s life was dedicated to uplifting humanity, urging us all to embrace a vision of justice that is larger than any single race or nation. His wrongful conviction is not just a story of the past - it is a reflection of the work that remains before us. It underscores the deep need for a justice system that protects, not prosecutes, those who dare to inspire and empower. This is not a Black issue, nor a partisan one - it is an American issue.”

Elderly and youth braved the frigid temperatures. Media representatives joined in person and remotely. The event was livestreamed on the CGA YouTube Channel. Other notable voices lending support remotely include Delaware’s native son, Dr. Richard Allen Williams, founder of the National Association of Black Cardiologists and 117th president of the National Medical Association. Dr. Williams received the U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 from the White House and President Biden.  Dr. Williams expressed “a full pardon and exoneration are in order after 101 years.”

Letters of support from Delaware organizations and leaders have been forwarded to the White House, Delaware Congressional Delegation, local leadership as well as the Garvey Family.  An online petition was created to collect signatures from the public who want to offer their support at Change.org https://www.change.org/p/president-biden-exonerate-honorable-marcus-mosiah-garvey?source_location=search and donations can be made at www.legacymovementfilm.com to support the Pan-African initiatives of the Center for Global Africa and Marcus Garvey Institute.

The Garvey Legacy Film Project trailer was released in December and the short documentary on the exoneration efforts will be released this month. https://www.legacymovementfilm.com/Trailers. Alicia Clark told the crowd “I am optimistic this story will end with Biden signing the exoneration, however our short film will accurately reflect our narrative, and our advocacy efforts will continue until this shadow is lifted.”  The film will be showcased during Black History Month at HBCUs and film festivals in the USA and abroad. The primary goal is to build awareness about the relevance and importance of individuals like Marcus Garvey.

CONTACT:           Alicia Clark | (302) 540-0954 | aclark@centerforglobalafrica.com

                                Bernadette Morris | (877) BLACKPR | newsroom@blackprwire.com

Supporting organizations (visit https://www.legacymovementfilm.com/delaware-voices to see the full list)

About The Center for Global Africa

The Center for Global Africa (CGA), www.centerforglobalafrica.com headquartered in Delaware is a Sixth Region and Pan-HBCU academic think tank that works with satellite partners in Africa and throughout the Diaspora, and engages in research, consultancy, advocacy and enterprising practices for global African development. It is also the agency leading the effort regarding the exoneration of Marcus Garvey.

The Garvey Campaign, which is linked to the work of the Center, shares a vital partnership with the Garvey Institute, and ensures a continuum with the Center's work of socio-economic development and governance in Africa, the Caribbean and the Diaspora.

To find out more about The Center for Global Africa, contact Alicia Clark, Director of Global Partnerships, at (302) 540-0954.

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Photo 1: Elected Officials, Civic and community leaders stood in solidarity to express their support for Garvey’s Exoneration and ask President Joe Biden to take action now.