Trump considering pardon for boxing legend after call from Sylvester Stallone

[Judi Lynn]

Source: The Hill


BY BRETT SAMUELS - 04/21/18 03:33 PM EDT

President Trump said Saturday he’s considering a posthumous pardon for boxer Jack Johnson at the urging of actor Sylvester Stallone.

“Sylvester Stallone called me with the story of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson. His trials and tribulations were great, his life complex and controversial,” Trump tweeted.

“Others have looked at this over the years, most thought it would be done, but yes, I am considering a Full Pardon!” he continued.

Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion of the world. An all-white jury convicted him in 1913 for transporting a woman across state lines for “immoral purposes,” which was illegal under the Mann Act.


Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/384285-trump-considering-pardon-for-boxer-jack-johnson-after-call-from

[PoliticAverse]

1. Pardon or pardon not, there is no "consider". n/t

[sarcasmo]

2. We're in the Matrix.

[Cracklin Charlie]

4. It feels like a black hole.

[flibbitygiblets]

3. Are there no LIVING people of color who've suffered injustice that he could actually help?

No, just a symbolic gesture to reaffirm that he has pardoning power, and a small bone to "prove" that no one is less racist than him!

[oberliner]

5. Not just an all-white jury, but an all-white male jury

[Ukrainian Yankee]

9. Oh!

That can still get a black man in trouble today!

[Scruffy1]

6. The law hadn't even been passed when the incident occurred.

They were later married.

[Bengus81]

11. If it happened in 1912 or 1913 then yes the law had been passed....

This law wasn't just used on blacks,it could be used by family members who didn't like a male suitor black or white as long as you crossed State lines.

Case in point it was filed against Bill Lear in the 20's (yeah,that Bill Lear) by his girlfriends sister who hated Bill. It was later dropped when his girlfriend who became his wife refused to testify against him.

[BlueStater]

7. A meaningless gesture in a weak attempt to prove he isn't a racist.

A pardon isn't much use for a guy who's been dead for 70 years.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

10. Also, he's getting the country used to his pardoning people.

This way, when he pardons everyone he thinks can testify against him, his base can say, "He has the right to do this." The rest of us in the fact-based world will yell bloody murder.

He'll probably pardon his "fixer" first.

[rurallib]

8. I thought this had to be Borowitz

it has finally happened - I can no longer distinguish reality and satire.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

12. Jack Johnson should be pardoned

[Mc Mike]

13. D rump has to work on the important issues. Only but so many hours in the day.

He had to prioritize.

[malthaussen]

14. That will look good on Mr Johnson's grave. n/t