Anais Gutierrez
Last week, rapper Meek Mill was sentenced to two to four years in prison for violating his probation. The sentence has caused outrage in the public and fellow artists, who claim Mill’s is a victim of an unfair system.
In the last days, #JUSTICE4MEEK has been trending on Twitter. Petitions are being signed to get his pardon. Meanwhile, Mill began his third prison sentence on Wednesday, and the FBI is investigating the judge that sentenced him.
Sentenced to prison time
Last Monday, Meek Mill, born Robert Rihmeek Williams, was sentenced by Judge Genece Brinkley in a Philadelphia court for violating his 2008 probation.
He received two to four years in state prison after a pair of arrests this year. One for popping wheelies on a dirt bike and another for getting into a fight.
Mill’s first arrest this year came in March after he was involved in a fight at a St. Louis airport. The second came in August when he was arrested in New York for reckless endangerment for popping wheelies on his dirt bike and not wearing a helmet.
The sentence came against the prosecutor’s office recommendation of not jailing Mill for his infractions. Which ranged as wide as a failed drug test to popping wheelies — but Brinkley disagreed.
Mill’s sentence came a day before Philadelphia elected Larry Krasner, a progressive Democrat and civil rights attorney who vowed a “movement” for criminal justice reform, to be its next district attorney.
Joe Tacopina speaks out
Mill’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, has been outspoken about the sentence.
“(Meek’s) frustrated, really frustrated and knows he’s being treated differently than anyone else,” Tacopina said.
“If his name was John Smith, he wouldn’t be in jail and he certainly wouldn’t be on probation.”
Tacopina later added that Meek is “a strong kid” and his community will stop at nothing to ensure justice is served.
“He knows he has a bunch of people fighting for him. I mean, what this has done is spur outrage. Mike Rubin [part-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers] was going absolutely wild. JAY-Z is out there going absolutely wild,” he continued.
“People who are very powerful in that community are not going to stand there and take that. There’s going to be a real sort of powerful and strong response.”
Mill’s legal team is considering the upcoming legal actions. Including asking for another judge to be assigned to the case.
#FreeMeekMill
The case has sparked outrage and backlash from the public with the #JUSTICE4MEEK trending. Also, personalities and artists, not just from the hip-hop community have expressed their support to Mill.
A petition in Change.org is making the rounds. It calls for Governor Tom Wolf to re-evaluate the Philadelphia rapper’s two- to four-year prison sentence.
The petition has since been revised and addressed to the state’s Board of Pardons as well as Wolf.
However, according to Wolf’s press secretary, J.J. Abbott, the Governor’s hands are tied as he can’t evaluate the case without the involvement of a board.
Until Monday night, more than 351,000 supporters have signed the petition with celebrities and activists asking people’s support.
Colin Kaepernick, who became a symbol of resistance against racial bias in policing after taking the knee during the National Anthem to protest police brutality, took to Twitter on Monday to express his support to Mill as well as his thoughts.
“This requires more than just gradual reform in laws. It requires a swift overhaul,” Kaepernick tweeted.
On Monday, fans and personalities gathered at Philadelphia’s Criminal Justice Center for a rally protesting the rapper’s imprisonment.
Activists and prominent personalities took part in the protest. Including Rick Ross, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins, and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Julius Erving.
Sign the petition to overturn the blatant injustice on @Change #Justice4Meek https://t.co/RrM651vrXl ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽We wit u young King. Stay Up. This too shall pass. pic.twitter.com/APXMRoEZfZ
— T.I. (@Tip) November 9, 2017
Fuck the system #FreeMeek
— DonQHBTL (@DonQhbtl) November 6, 2017
i’m covering the #FreeMeekMill rally in philly, crowd chanting “free Meek Mill “ and “fuck that judge” pic.twitter.com/P1VGzyQV0U
— Joshua Scott Albert (@jpegjoshua) November 13, 2017
FBI opening an investigation
According to reports, federal authorities have launched an investigation into Judge Genece Brinkley. The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge that sentenced Meek Mill on Monday.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation probe is reportedly looking into the judge Brinkley’s past relationships as well as a “possible extortionate demand.”
The investigation follows Mill’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, claims. That Judge Brinkley reportedly has a personal interest in the case.
Judge Brinkley has overseen Mill’s case for years and was criticized by Tacopina for extending Mill’s initial five-year probation sentence following various violations.
“He’s been on probation for nearly 10 years. Nobody goes on probation for 10 years,” Tacopina added.
Tacopina who hasn’t been shy in expressing his belief Brinkley has a personal interest in the case. Also, highlighted the judge’s enormous bias” against his client.
And claimed the judge has repeatedly asked him to drop his current management. Jay-Z’s agency Roc Nation, for Philadelphia music figure Charlie Mack.
Reports also say an anonymous source says that undercover agents have been in Brinkley’s courtroom monitoring the local hip-hop star’s case proceedings since April 2016.
Source: Essence
