Jack Johnson, the legendary boxer who became the first African-American heavyweight champion of the world, has been posthumously pardoned by Donald Trump on the advice of Sylvester Stallone.
"Today I've issued an executive grant of clemency, a full pardon, posthumously, to John Arthur 'Jack' Johnson ... The first African-American heavyweight champion of the world, a truly great fighter. Had a tough life," said the president.
Trump made the announcement in the Oval Office where he was joined by Stallone, current heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, and Linda Bell Haywood, Johnson's great-great niece.
"We have done something today that was very important, because we righted a wrong," Trump said. "Jack Johnson was not treated fairly, and we have corrected that, and I'm very honored to have done it."
Trump first mentioned the pardon in April when he tweeted that he had spoken with Stallone about Johnson.
"Sylvester Stallone called me with the story of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson. His trials and tribulations were great, his life complex and controversial. Others have looked at this over the years, most thought it would be done, but yes, I am considering a Full Pardon!"
Johnson was convicted in 1913 under the Mann Act for taking his white girlfriend across state lines.
Source: cnn.com
