Meek Mill Released from Prison
After nearly five months in prison and fickle legal battles, Philadelphia-born rapper Meek Mill has been granted bail.
Mill was originally convicted in 2008 for possession of drugs and guns, and served eight months in prison. He was then placed on probation for five years, a period that has been extended several times, according to The New York Times. In November of 2017, Mill was sentenced to two to four years for violating his roughly ten-year long probation. He was sent to jail by Judge Genece Brinkley who accused Mill of wasting several chances to clean up his act. The prosecutor argued that Mill had matured since his original crime, but Brinkley said the prosecutor did not know the case as well as she did and that Mill just “does what he wants,” reported CBS. This caused national outrage as fans and supporters hit the streets to protest and created internet petitions asking for Judge Brinkley’s removal or Mill’s pardon.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court was asked to vacate his conviction after the credibility of his arresting officer was questioned. The judge ultimately ordered the artist’s immediate release on Tuesday. Thirty-year-old Meek Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, took to Twitter to express his gratitude.
I’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive.
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018
To the Philly District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues.
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018
In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018
The star has also drawn response from the sports community. Michael Rubin, co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils, has been an advocate of Mill since his sentencing and has visited him several times. Rubin was first to announce the news on instagram and added that he was on his way to pick Mill up from prison.
On Tuesday night, his hometown team will play the Miami Heat (Game 5) in their first-round playoff series. Could the 76ers court be Mill’s first post-prison public appearance?
