Hundreds of people came out to support imprisoned rapper Meek Mill on Monday evening during a rally outside Philadelphia's Criminal Justice Center to protest and call for his sentence to be overturned. Speakers at the demonstration included Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius Erving, current Philadelphia Eagles players Malcolm Jenkins and Vinny Curry, and fellow Philly rapper Freeway.

Erving was the first big name to address the crowd, quoting Martin Luther King Jr, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Erving also said Meek's sentence "was excessive, was cruel, and was motivated by unsavory circumstances."

Freeway spoke afterward, “You can tell it’s something personal with this judge.”

Jenkins said that injustices, such as what supporters alleged about Mill, “erodes the faith of black and brown communities.”

Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who sparked the controversial national anthem protests against police misconduct, wrote on his Twitter account, “Sadly there are Black folks going through the same radicalized injustice(s) within the justice system that Meek Mill has experienced for over a decade EVERY SINGLE DAY. This requires more than just gradual reform in laws — It requires a swift overhaul.”

“I stand for Meek Mill,” tweeted fellow Philadelphian Tariq Trotter, aka Black Thought of The Roots. “I hope my city does the same.”

Meek, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was sentenced last week to two to four years in prison for violating his probation, which he's been on since a 2008 gun and drug case. Critics have lashed out at the sentencing judge, Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley, alleging that she has a vendetta against the Philly rapper. Neither the prosecutor nor Meek's probation officer recommended prison time in the case.

Meek's probation was revoked after he pled guilty in October to reckless driving charges in Manhattan after riding a dirt bike and popping wheelies on city streets. He was also arrested for fighting in a St. Louis airport in March, but those charges were dropped.

Meek's defense lawyers have pledged to appeal, but no challenge has been filed yet. A Change.org petition calling for Lt. Gov. Michael J. Stack and the Board of Pardons to review his case has gotten over 350,000 signatures.

Philadelphia comic Kevin Hart is among those who has asked his supporters to sign the petition.

We’re “really trying to get this sentence re-evaluated,” Hart said. “It’s just not fair. The man’s not perfect … Anytime a district attorney and a probation officer says this man does not deserve to go to jail, do not sentence this guy to jail and [the judge still does it,] it’s personal.”

Source: philly.com