Rick Ross, 76ers legend Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, Eagles players and fans were among the Meek Mill supporters rallying in Philadelphia Monday (Nov. 13) in protest of a judge’s jail sentence in the rapper’s probation violation case.
Photos and video clips from the rally circulated over social media Monday evening.
In one clip, Ross — Mill’s Maybach Music Group label boss — addressed the crowd: “I’m here to support my brother Meek Mill. I want y’all to understand that if it take Meek Mill to draw this attention, we gonna use Meek Mill to draw this attention that is gonna speak for so many others.”
Rick Ross in Philly protesting the sentencing of Meek Mill pic.twitter.com/v7EW7oAsVw
— DJ Akademiks (@IamAkademiks) November 13, 2017
Trending on Billboard
Malcolm Jenkins, Torrey Smith, Jalen Mills and Wendell Smallwood were among the Phildelphia Eagles teammates in attendance. Mills held a sign that read “We support you Meek.”
#Eagles players Malcolm Jenkins, Torrey Smith, Wendell Smallwood and Malcolm Jenkins are here at a rally for rapper Meek Mill. pic.twitter.com/3tSlJfkHS2
— Aaron Kasinitz (@AaronKazreports) November 13, 2017
@MeekMill ?? pic.twitter.com/GiziHMxn0I
— Jalen Mills (@greengoblin) November 13, 2017
Many in the crowd chanted “Free Meek Mill” and sang the rapper’s “Dreams and Nightmares” intro together at the rally, which was planned to begin in front of Philadelphia’s Criminal Justice Center at 5 p.m.
i’m covering the #FreeMeekMill rally in philly, crowd chanting “free Meek Mill “ and “fuck that judge” pic.twitter.com/P1VGzyQV0U
— Joshua Scott Albert (@jpegjoshua) November 13, 2017
Watch the crowd sing “Dreams and Nightmares Intro” at the Meek Mill rally in Philadelphia. https://t.co/gfvoxTvlWA pic.twitter.com/hIF4HeEa94
— The FADER (@thefader) November 13, 2017
An artist named Billy Joe Michel shared a painting at the rally called “Black in the Box,” a commentary on the judicial system that pictures Mill chained and behind bars.
Artist Billy Joe Michel brought a piece of art she started painting called “Black in the Box” after Meek Mill was sent back to prison. She said it’s a commentary on the judicial system. pic.twitter.com/3NG4zG5ler
— Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) November 13, 2017
A poster to get the word out about the event said: “Our criminal justice system has failed Meek Mill and millions of others like him. We stand for justice,” along with hashtags #justice4meek and #freemeekmill.
Joseph Tacopina, Mill’s attorney, is filing a motion for Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley to remove herself from the case, as well as an official complaint with the judicial conduct board over the judge’s sentence for Mill, which outraged many in the hip-hop community and beyond. The rapper was given two to four years in prison for violating his probation in a 2008 gun and drugs case.