A legal victory for Meek Mill

By Gregory Muhammad | Last updated: Aug 21, 2019 - 9:28:37 AM

Philadelphia Freedom School Program Coordinator Kwanzaa Parker (center, front) with Philadelphia Freedom School students.

Rapper Meek Mill was granted a “new trial and new judge,” by a Pennsylvania Appeals Court and is due back in court in late August. He has been fighting a 2008 drug and gun conviction. Meek Mill’s attorneys argued that the conviction should be overturned. Meek was sentenced to eight months in prison and then was placed on probation for five years which was extended several times. This is unjust and outrageous. He was granted a new trial and judge July 24.

In 2017, following two arrests that didn’t lead to convictions, Philadelphia Judge Genece Brinkley, sentenced Meek to four years in prison for violating his parole. This unjust sentence lead to an outcry throughout the Black community, among celebrities and advocates of criminal justice reform.

The injustice continued, as the rapper served five months before he was granted bail. Upon being released, Meek stated, “Although I’m blessed to have the resources to fight this unjust situation, 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.”

On August 6, the Nation of Islam Prison Reform Ministry in the Delaware Valley Region was present at the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center in support of justice prevailing in Meek’s case on behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and his Student National Prison Reform Minister Abdullah Muhammad. The Nation of Islam Prison Reform Ministry united with many youth present at the rally supporting Meek. It is the “Free Meek Mill Movement.” Meek Mill’s legal team had this to say, “While we had hoped that this matter would end today, we remain confident that justice will prevail in Meek’s case once and for all.”

(L-R): Philadelphia Freedom School youth: Talicia Bridges, Makiyla Grant, Ramier Jones and Jasir Cook join Catherine Muhammad, Gregory Muhammad, Sixx King and Robert Johnson, Philadelphia Freedom School servant leader intern.

It is now up to Philadelphia prosecutors to determine whether they will retry the case or not. Meek’s new hearing is now set for August 27. He remains out of prison on his own recognizance. It is outrageous that Meek has been on probation most of his adult life. This is a prolonged 12- year legal battle. This should have been over when he appeared in court on August 6.

The Nation of Islam Prison Reform Ministry was able to speak with some of Meek Mill’s supporters and Brother Dawud Bey, a Pennsylvania representative for the newly formed Reform Alliance, in which Meek Mill is one of the co-founders. Meek Mill didn’t speak at the “Victory Rally.” He did release a statement according to Kia Morgan-Smith of The Grio.

“I’d like to thank the Pennsylvania Superior Court judges for their wisdom and their transparency in reviewing my case, unanimously overturning my conviction and granting me a new trial. The past 11 years have been mentally and emotionally challenging, but I’m ecstatic that justice prevailed. This positive outcome wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my family, my attorneys, Jay Z, Desiree Perez, Michael Rubin, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and my supporters who have stood with me through the ups and downs,” the statement read.

According to Billboard, Meek Mill also had this to say, “I want to thank all my supporters and the Philly media for coming out to my hearing! Although I wanted to personally address you this morning, my attorneys advised me not to comment about my case at this time. What I can say is that I appreciate the hometown love and I’m proud to represent the city of Philadelphia in everything I do.”

This writer believes justice will be served in the case of Meek Mill. However, consider these words from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, National Representative of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Eternal Leader of the Nation of Islam. He spoke with them November 20, 2010 at the Coronado Performing Arts Theatre in Rockford, Illinois.

“The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, our teacher, taught us that justice lies down with you when you lay down at night, and justice rises up when you wake up in the morning. Regardless to what happens in man’s court of law, there is a Higher Law; a Higher Balance. Even when we think we have “cheated justice” with unjust judges, and unjust decisions—all of those decisions and judges are at the same time being judged.”

The Minister continued, “No one gets out of this life without paying, regardless to what we do to create what looks like justice, though it may not be ‘justice’ at all. So, what is ‘justice’? The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us that Justice is The Principle of Fair Dealing. According to Webster’s Dictionary, justice is ‘fairness, fair play, fair mindedness.’ Justice is ‘evenhandedness, impartiality, objectivity;’ it’s a ‘lack of bias, a lack of prejudice.’”

The NOI Prison Reform Ministry, Delaware Valley Region stands with Meek Mill and thousands of others suffering from the same “injustices” anywhere in America on behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and his Student National Prison Reform Minister Abdullah Muhammad.

Support the Nation of Islam Prison Reform Ministry by getting the greatest Black newspaper on the planet, The Final Call newspaper and go to page 25 where you will find all the information you need to show and demonstrate your support. FREE MEEK MILL!

(Gregory Muhammad is the Nation of Islam Student Regional Prison Reform Minister in the Delaware Valley Region.)

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