Houston Rockets superstar James Harden visited Meek Mill in prison on Wednesday. Tonight Harden, who has had the Philly rapper perform at a number of his parties in the past, plans to wear a custom version of his signature adidas sneakers that read FREE MEEK when the Rockets take on the Boston Celtics.
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James Harden will be wearing “Free Meek Mill” shoes on Thursday against the Boston Celtics.
Mill is currently locked up for a violation of his probation after a gun and drug case when he was 18. Earlier this year, he was charged with reckless endangerment for popping wheelies on a dirt bike, and he was also charged with assault after getting into a fight.
His legal team has argued that his 10-year probation from an incident almost a decade ago was excessive and atypical, and that the judge went against the wishes of the district attorney, who recommended no incarceration for technical violations.”
Hip Hop royalty like Jay Z, Rick Ross, and Drake, once a rival of Meek, have rallied to his cause and made statements about the ridiculous heavy-handed-ness of him being incarcerated, along with the likes of LeBron James.
Mills case has re-opened a long-running debate around criminal justice reform. Two attempts to appeal his case have been denied so far. In November, community leaders in Philadelphia held a rally, where the likes of former 76ers legend Julius Erving and Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins took to the podium outside the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia to offer their support.
Harden is the latest in a long line of members of the NBA family to support Meek. Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin has been the most vocal on this subject, trying to save Meek Mill from prison, challenging the judge on the case and saying that he “lost faith in the system” after the verdict that sent his friend to prison. Other Sixers players, including Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, have also showed support by sporting “Free Meek Mill” hoodies at Jay Z’s 4:44 concert.
