Meek Mill receives social justice award from NYU
“I’m honored by this recognition,” Meek said in a statement.
Meek Mill continues to receive recognition for his work on criminal justice reform.
On Monday (June 10), the Championships rapper was honored at the seventh annual McSilver Awards at NYU. The Philadelphia native received the Vanguard for Social Justice award and was in attendance to speak at the event.
“I’m honored by this recognition,” Meek said in a statement. “When I was released from prison last year, I knew I had a responsibility to use my voice to speak up for the voiceless and fight for criminal justice reform. Change will take time, but me and my team at the REFORM Alliance are committed to making a real difference and fixing a broken justice system.”
“I’ve been beat by police, I’ve been locked in penitentiaries, I’ve been on probation much of my life… I’ve never seen much justice [and] so I wanted to take giants in every field that I could think of and make justice in this country,” Meek said at the event.
In January, Meek partnered with JAY-Z to launch a criminal justice reform organization known as the REFORM Alliance. The main focus of the organization is to advance efforts pertaining to “criminal justice reform and [eliminating] outdated laws that perpetuate injustice, starting with probation and parole.”
The founding members, including Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Philadelphia 76ers co-owner and Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin, Brooklyn Nets co-owner Clara Wu Tsai, Third Point LLC founder Daniel S. Loeb, Vista Equity Partners founder Robert F. Smith, and Galaxy Digital founder Michael E. Novogratz, collectively pledged $50 million toward its goal.
Since then, the 32-year-old rapper has received his own day and state key in Connecticut, his own three-day holiday weekend in Philly and his own day in Houston thanks to his dedicated advocacy work.
Earlier this month, a probation reform bill supported by the “Going Bad” artist was introduced to legislature. This summer, Meek will share his experience with America’s broken legal system in the Amazon docuseries “Free Meek.” Keep reading to see footage from his address at NYU’s event, then watch the trailer for his upcoming documentary here.