Trump considering pardon for boxer Jack Johnson after Sylvester Stallone call

President Donald Trump is considering a pardon for Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion. Johnson served a year in prison in the 1920s on a conviction many saw as racially motivated. (Contributed photo/Library of Congress Public Domain)

By

President Donald Trump said Saturday he is considering granting a pardon to late boxer Jack Johnson after a call from "Rocky" star Sylvester Stallone.

Trump said in a tweet Saturday he was considering "a full pardon" for the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion, who died in 1946. In 1913, Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann act, which forbid transporting women across state lines for "immoral purposes," a charge many considered to be racially motivated.

At the time of his conviction, Johnson had drawn heavy media scrutiny for a series of relationships with white women. He served a year in prison after being convicted by an all-white jury.

Previous efforts to secure a posthumous pardon for Johnson, including one in 2016 by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and former Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid have failed. Resolutions calling for the pardon have passed Congress several times.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.