Meek Mill, co-founder of REFORM Alliance, played Santa to 50 kids whose lives have been affected by the broken criminal justice system.
READ MORE: Meek Mill, now a soldier for reform, gets recognition for his stance against injustice in the system
The rapper, along with other REFORM Alliance co-founders Michael Rubin, Clara Wu Tsai and Robert Kraft, on Saturday hosted a shopping spree for the children in Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey, at the NBA Store in Manhattan. They were joined by DJ Khaled and Brooklyn Nets player Caris LeVert.
A warm welcome from @MeekMill to dozens of children being treated to the shopping spree in time for Christmas. All of the kids invited have a parent impacted by the justice system and incarceration. @6abc @REFORM @MichaelGRubin pic.twitter.com/GkTELhnByZ
— Sharrie Williams (@WilliamsSharrie) December 21, 2019
The kids were chosen because their lives have been negatively impacted by the broken probation system. Some children have a parent incarcerated for technical violations of their probation, similar to Meek Mill’s experience. Others have a parent who is locked up, or whose probation was extended due to a technical probation violation, according to a press release.
“I respect them! Anybody can do it but they doing it… these kids are from my hood and just got a experience of a lifetime that they will never forget!!!” Mill wrote on Twitter.
I respect them! Anybody can do it but they doing it… these kids are from my hood and just got a experience of a lifetime that they will never forget!!! https://t.co/2ZCfCxexvd
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 22, 2019
The participants played games at the NBA store and we able to buy sports apparel. The whirlwind experience didn’t stop there. Next the group boarded Rubin’s private plane and were flown to New England to attend the New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills AFC East division title game on Saturday afternoon.
READ MORE: Meek Mill, Van Jones introduce Philadelphia probation reform measure
They also rubbed elbows with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and quarterback Tom Brady on the field at Gillette Stadium.
The alliance formed after Mill was handed a controversial two-to-four-year prison sentence for technical probation violations. Rubin and Mill joined forced earlier this year and introduced plans for a bipartisan bill proposal to address issues with technical probation violations. They also endeavored to revise some of the unforgiving penalties that people in Pennsylvania are sometimes dealt while on probation.
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