Recently 2 big names in Hip Hop, Meek Mill and Kevin Gates were released from prison, after spending a combined 14-month prison sentence.

Gates was released January 10, 2018, from an Illinois State prison after serving 9 out of a 30-month sentence, for a felonious weapons charge. In 2015, Gates was also convicted of battery and served 180 days in Polk County, Florida, after he kicked a female fan with force because she grabbed him. As a result of Gates criminal past, he is unable to carry a weapon or leave the state of Illinois.

“CHAINED TO THE CITY”

Last week, Gate’s wife Dreka, took to his Instagram page to update his fans and express her frustrations. She captioned the video “chained to the city”. In the video, she states that:

“Kevin is unable to make it to the shows this weekend and next weekend. The Illinois Dept. of Corrections has prevented Kevin from leaving the state of Illinois. He isn’t even allowed to come home to California where we live, and since he was released in January he has not been able to come home not 1 time.”

#chainedtothecity #imHim

A post shared by Kevin Gates (@iamkevingates) on May 3, 2018 at 10:43pm PDT

She then went on to apologize for his absence but reassured the fans that he would make it up to them and that he is in the studio going hard.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

At what point is enough, enough? He has already served time for his mistakes. He has permanently lost his right to bear arms. Now it appears that the justice system is attempting to take his livelihood as well.

When you look at the system and how it is designed to keep men of color oppressed. It is no wonder why often times they feel forced to regress back to their old lifestyles and street mentality. If men of color with status, money, and power are being derailed and unfairly treated, it is without question that thousands and thousands of black men caught in the prison system are just like the proverbial hamster wheel, just spinning and spinning, but getting nowhere, but exactly where they started.

#FREEMEEK

Meek Mill, was also released from prison on Apr 23, 2018, in Pennsylvania, after serving 5 months of a possible 2 to a 4-year prison sentence for POPPING WHEELIES on a dirt bike and getting into a scuffle. These two offenses violated probation from charges stemming from a drug and gun case in 2008.

It is unconscionable that an entire decade later, that Mill is still paying for the non-violent transgressions, which resulted in his early adulthood.

Fortunately, Mill has garnered support from all over the world, many of whom are celebrities and individuals with money and power. Even Queen Bey herself was talking about “FREE MEEK”.

But what about the disenfranchised brother who doesn’t have the support of JAY Z, TI, and MICHAEL RUBIN?

 Debt To Society = PAID IN FULL

Both Gates and Mill have paid their debt to society. But in the eyes of the American Justice System, which is just another form of modern day slavery, their offenses are unforgivable. Not because the nature of the crimes are so atrocious, but because the individuals that committed the crimes are deemed as a menace to society, simply because of the color of their skin.

If this is happening to high profile celebrities, who are able to afford elite legal counsel to represent them, it is without question that thousands of black men and women across the country are experiencing an even higher level of inequity and disparity.

Mill has promised to fight the good fight, for others who have also been unfairly imprisoned for offenses that deserve a bit of grace. Hopefully, now that celebrity light has been shed on this age-old issue, the shift for fair and equal rights will begin. Then and only then, will America truly be great, with LIBERTY and JUST for ALL!!!

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