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Rapper Meek Mill Likely To Be Released Soon, Might Have Been Unjustly Convicted

Meek Mill speaks out in his first prison interview about bias in the criminal justice system.

By Sowmya Krishnamurthy
6 Wrongful Convictions That Were Overturned

The #FreeMeek movement may have paid off.

The Philly rapper is currently incarcerated for two to four years for violating his probation. That may be overturned due to a widespread problem of police corruption in the city, as USA Today reports. Meek Mill may have been unjustly convicted because a cop lied at his 2008 trial.

The district attorney said Wednesday that he will not oppose the rapper (real name Robert Williams)'s immediate release on bail pending appeal. 

"In the event (Mill's) conviction is reversed (in whole or in part) as a result of post-conviction proceedings, the risk of an unjust or disproportionate sentence having been served exists," District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement. "That risk increases as long as (Mill) remains in custody."

The D.A. filed documents that there's a "strong showing of likelihood" that the rapper's conviction will be reversed due to a larger police corruption scandal in Philly, reports TMZ.  Prosecutors say that hundreds of previous convictions have already been overturned.

In November, Mill was sentenced due to violating his probation. The rapper previously served eight months behind bars for drug dealing and possession of a gun in 2008. He violated his probation when he was arrested twice in 2017. In March, he was arrested for fighting at a St. Louis airport and in August, he was busted for driving recklessly through New York City on his dirt bike. The airport charge was dropped and the rapper took a deal to dismiss the dirt bike case.

Mill's current incarceration has faced significant backlash as being overly punitive. Jay-Z spoke out on Facebook about the sentencing. 

"The sentence handed down by the Judge — against the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation Officer — is unjust and heavy-handed," he wrote on Facebook. Jay-Z is owner of Roc Nation, which manages Mill. "We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career."

Mill opened up to Rolling Stone in his first prison interview this week. He cited ongoing discrimination that he believes he's faced at the hands of the criminal justice system. The police, probation officer and judge are all black and the rapper sees this as a reverse bias.

"I want to speak on this system and what it does to black people – on both fucking sides of the fence," he said. "Straight self-hate, man, it makes these people crazy. Trust me, I'm gonna say something about that."

[Photo: Getty Images] 

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