Meek Mill made a promise to fight for criminal justice reform and he's holding true to that. The MMG rapper, Jay Z, Van Jones and other bigwigs have launched a smart new criminal justice initiative called the REFORM Alliance. Deets inside....
When Meek Mill was released from prison in April 2018 (after "violating" his probation), he made a pledge to fight for criminal justice reform to give a voice to the voiceless.
The Philly rapper just joined forces with Jay Z, Van Jones, and the owners of the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Super Bowl-bound New England Patriots to launch a new criminal justice initiative called REFORM Alliance. They made the announcement at John Jay College in NYC yesterday.
"I'm here to speak for all the people who don't have a voice," the "Dreams & Nightmares" rapper told the audience.
"I got caught up in the system and every time I started to further my life with the music industry — from traveling the world, performing worldwide and actually making money to be able to provide for my family and take them out of their ruthless environment, every year or two was something that always brought me back to ground zero and it was probation and I always wondered what happened to people in situations worse than mine," he said.
It's interesting. Jay and the NFL def don't see eye to eye about the role the league plays in black men's voices being supressed. But Patroits owner Bob Kraft sides with former NFL QB Colin Kaepernick, so Jay brought him on as an ally of sorts.
The organization, which will be led by CNN's Van Jones, will aim to reduce the number of people affected by parole and probation law by 1 million over the next five years.
"I'm here to speak for all the people who don't have a voice."@MeekMill announces the launch of @REFORM Alliance, a new criminal justice reform organization: "I got caught up in the system ... and I always wondered what happened to people in situations worse than mine" pic.twitter.com/MiKIBqf1kp
— Deena Zeina (@Deena_Zaru) January 23, 2019
Meek, Jay Z, New England Patriots owner/Kraft Group CEO Robert Kraft, Brooklyn Nets co-owner Clara Wu Tsai, Philadelphia 76ers co-owner/Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin, Third Point LLC founder Daniel S. Loeb, Galaxy Digital founder Michael E. Novogratz, and Vista Equity Partners founder Robert F. Smith are the founding parters of the organization and they have collectively pledged $50 million to launch REFORM.
On his "first day out" of prison, @MeekMill pledged to fight for others and now, months after his release, the artist continues to make good on his promise.
Meek Mill, Jay-Z join forces with other leaders to launch criminal justice @reform organization: https://t.co/7tfDgZnnMwpic.twitter.com/xQml25y5EL
— Deena Zeina Zaru (@Deena_Zaru) January 23, 2019
“Creating the REFORM Alliance is one of the most important things I’ve ever done in my life,” Meek Mill said in a statement. “If you thought my case was unfair, there are millions of others dealing with worse situations and caught up in the system without committing crimes. With this alliance, we want to change outdated laws, give people hope and reform a system that’s stacked against us.”
During the event, Hov praised Meek for his activism:
Jay z Speaks On @MeekMill& Criminal Justice Reform pic.twitter.com/TZSwYjyagu
— 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blogggg) January 23, 2019
And Meek surprised his own self being at the same table as billionaires:
"This started off as a buddy movie, and it's now become The Avengers," Van said.
Today I was announced as the CEO of the @REFORM Alliance. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I’ve spent more than 25 years working to fix the criminal justice system, and with partners like these I know we can make a real difference. pic.twitter.com/riQUWR7Ys5
— Van Jones (@VanJones68) January 23, 2019
Robert Kraft and Michael Rubin also shared stories about how Meek's case opened their eyes to the injustices African-American face against the judicial system:
Robert Kraft on how @MeekMill changed his views on prison reform: "I had never been to jail before and going there and seeing him, I didn't sleep the rest of the night when I went home because here I thought how out of touch someone like myself is with what's really going on" pic.twitter.com/vEMHbGsTiz
— Deena Zeina (@Deena_Zaru) January 23, 2019
In a passionate speech announcing the launch of @REFORM, @MichaelGRubin explains how @MeekMill taught him that there are "two Americas" and how Rubin was "dead wrong" for thinking the criminal justice system "worked great."
Meek showed him how badly it needs to be reformed pic.twitter.com/gFIU9LfnWz
— Deena Zeina Zaru (@Deena_Zaru) January 23, 2019
Fab chicks Gayle King, Angie Martinez and June Ambrose were on the scene to support.
You can watch the full event below:
Proceeds from Meek's PUMA Clyde Court sneakers will be donated to the new initiative:
Proceeds of the @meekmill lead @PUMA Clyde Court #REFORM shoe will go to @REFORM Alliance. #FightDifferentpic.twitter.com/WinFN1v6cn
— Roc Nation (@RocNation) January 24, 2019
Time to stand together and do better!!! Proceeds of this @puma Clyde court #REFORM shoe are going to @reform Alliance #FightDifferentpic.twitter.com/K9S0w68ySI
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) January 24, 2019
Our goal is simple - Get 1 million people out of the criminal justice system. After witnessing the injustices that took place with @meekmill - it was a complete wake up call. It’s time to change a broken system starting TODAY. Proud to be on this team! #Reform#FightDifferentpic.twitter.com/1ZqRYJjP9L
— Michael Rubin (@MichaelGRubin) January 23, 2019
This morning, Meek appeared on "Good Morning America" to continue to spread the word:
.@MeekMill on launching criminal justice reform organization: "I'll use my platform to help some people...who don't really have a voice." https://t.co/JWBPXSX3Rvpic.twitter.com/nFJ5rouIbk
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 24, 2019
Shoutout to Meek for being productive for the people!
Photos: Splash/Getty/Meek's IG
