#FREEMeekMill
Imagine being at the height of your music career and just a few months shy of your ten-year parole term closing, and upon your ‘check in’ – court visit your sentenced to jail for violating your parole – yet you didn’t violate the actual terms of your probation. That is the case in question of rapper, Meek Mill.
In 2008, Robert Rihmeek Williams (19) was arrested for alleged gun and drug charges. Meek served a few months and was given five years parole. Meek’s rap career took off and traveling out of the country was part of his contractual obligations (which the courts were aware of) but that didn’t stop the 2014 warrant for his arrest that followed (near the closing of his five-year parole term) for not ‘effectively communicating’ ALL of his whereabouts.
Meek served five months in jail. To ensure that Meek’s actions were credible from there on out, familiar judge – Genece E. Brinkley issued an extended five-year parole term upon his release. In November of 2017, Meek was sentenced to two-four years of imprisonment for violating his parole.
His Crimes:
In March 2017, Meek was charged with ‘reckless endangerment’ in New York City for popping wheelies and riding a dirt bike without a helmet. This stunt was part of a music video the rapper was shooting at the time.
In August of 2017, Meek was arrested again after breaking up a fight between two other bystanders at a St.Louis Airport. The viral video of the incident proved Meek’s innocence but Judge Brinkley wasn’t having it , and sentenced the rapper on a technical violation.
The Issue:
Meek was 19 went he was first sentenced to adult penitentiary and so far he has spent most of his adult life on probation. As Meek describes to Holt, there is a major issue with the Criminal Justice system of laws that indicate any or the slightest infraction; can lead to years of imprisonment.
” Like, police contact you don’t have to be charged with a crime. You don’t have to be found guilty of a crime; You can be sentenced to what you were sentenced for like – what I was facing.
(Judge Genece E. Brinkley) said I was facing five to ten years, she said. So, if I was stopped by the police for jaywalking, legally she has the right to give me five to ten years -Meek Mill. ”
#FREEMEEK campaign is growing stronger with support. The Philadelphia District Attorney has asked for a new trial after a police officer of his initial 2007 arrest appeared on the list of suspected officers who were intentionally lying in court and framing other witnesses.
Judge Brinkley is holding firm and not moving the needle. Meek’s next hearing is scheduled for June 18th.