Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, May 24, 2018, President Donald Trump granted a full, posthumous pardon to heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson. Following the pardon, Congressman Randy Weber (R-Friendswood) released the following statement:

“Jack Johnson is the Galveston Giant. His contributions to the community and to history are numerous. Jack saw many hardships and adversities in life, and he wasn’t afraid to step into the ring and face a challenge. His conviction under the Mann Act was utterly wrong. Having just commemorated the 140th anniversary of his birth, it’s truly historic to see this legendary Texan pardoned.

“I applaud President Trump for pardoning Jack Johnson. The memory of our Galveston Giant can now be celebrated in full.”

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Jack Johnson was born on March 31, 1878 in Galveston, Texas. During the span of his boxing career, he won many fights and is awarded the distinction of being the first African American World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.

In 1912, Johnson was arrested and charged with violating the Mann Act, which forbid traveling across state lines with a woman for immoral purposes. Johnson was traveling across state lines with Lucille Cameron, the woman he was seeing at the time. He would go on to serve nearly a year in federal prison.

Johnson passed away on June 10, 1946 after a car accident near Raleigh, North Carolina. On May 24, 2018 – nearly 72 years after his death – President Donald Trump granted Jack Johnson a full, posthumous pardon.