Title
Honoring, Recognizing, and Congratulating Robert “Meek Mill” Williams for his philanthropic and criminal justice reform endeavors and naming March 15th through March 17th 2019 Meek Mill Weekend in the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Robert Williams, known to the world as Meek Mill, is a critically-acclaimed multiplatinum hip-hop artist, songwriter, entrepreneur, actor and criminal justice reform advocate that hails from North Philadelphia.
WHEREAS, Meek Mill evolved from Philadelphia’s hottest underground rapper to one of the world’s preeminent musical artists, having released a slew of smash studio albums and singles. His latest studio album, CHAMPIONSHIPS, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s “Top 200 Albums,” being his second chart-topper following his 2015 album DREAMS WORTH MORE THAN MONEY.
WHEREAS, Meek Mill is also the CEO of Dream Chasers, his music label imprint that he launched in 2012 and named after his mixtape series; and
WHEREAS, Since 2007, Mill has been entrapped in the criminal justice system and shuffled through the prison system over technical probational violations - all despite maintaining his innocence. His latest incarceration in November 2017 spurred the international #FreeMeekMill movement, where artists, athletes and others publicly advocated on his behalf until he was released on bail on April 24, 2018; and
WHEREAS, After his release from prison, Meek Mill has used his public platform to generate awareness around the problems of the criminal justice system, including excessive probation regulations, the disproportionate bail system, the lack of rehabilitation programs available, and how these problems disproportionately affect people of color; and
WHEREAS, Inspired by Meek Mill’s ongoing battles with the criminal justice system, business and entertainment leaders such as 76ers owner Michael Rubin, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Nets co-owner Clara Wu Tsai, hedge fund manager and investor Daniel Loeb, cryptocurrency titan Michael Novogratz, and Vista Equity Partners founder Robert Smith have teamed with renowned rapper Jay-Z and Meek Mill to launch the REFORM Alliance in January 2019; and
WHEREAS, Co-chaired by Meek Mill, The REFORM Alliance was formed to advance criminal justice reform and eradicate outdated policies that perpetuate injustice in the United States. Their goal is to reduce the number of people affected by parole and probation by 1 million over the next five years; and
WHEREAS, Meek Mill has donated over 60,000 bottles of water to the people of Flint, Michigan, given away thousands of backpacks and school supplies to children all across the City of Philadelphia, and provided gifts to those in homeless shelters; and
WHEREAS, This past fall Meek Mill, partnered with the City of Philadelphia and PUMA to renovate basketball courts at 33rd and Oxford Streets. In December he teamed up with PUMA and GoPuff to host a toy giveaway for over 3,000 children at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center, located at 22nd and Cecil B. Moore Ave., giving away video game consoles, bicycles, art sets, sneakers, board games and an array of other toys to kids from schools and organizations across the Philadelphia Area; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, Meek Mill serves as one of the captains of PUMA’s newly-launched #REFORM platform that enables PUMA ambassadors from the worlds of sports, music and entertainment to advocate for social justice issues and champion causes to promote positive change. He is specifically spearheading #REFORM’s focus on criminal justice reform and all proceeds from sales of his #REFORM-related products will be donated to charities working to reform the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, Using all platforms available due to his celebrity, Meek Mill has teamed up with Amazon Prime Video and JAY-Z’s Roc Nation for a six-part documentary series that will follow his own fight for exoneration while exposing flaws in the criminal justice system; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor, recognize and congratulate Robert “Meek Mill” Williams for his philanthropic and criminal justice reform endeavors and name March 15th through March 17th 2019 as Meek Mill Weekend in the City of Philadelphia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Meek Mill as evidence of the true and sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
End