Meek Mill giving Thanksgiving turkeys away from prison

As Philly rapper Meek Mill’s recent re-imprisonment continues to draw attention and criticism from criminal justice activists, Meek remains focused on doing good at home.

Representatives of the rapper, currently incarcerated at a state prison in Chester, held his annual “DreamChasers Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway” on Wednesday, despite the fact that Meek is currently locked up earlier, facing a two-to-four year sentence on probation violations.

The giveaway was announced on social media by Meek’s team, with giveaway points around the city, including in Point Breeze, West Philly, Strawberry Mansion and North Philly.

RMeek has held the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway for five years running, started in 2013 with 200 turkeys given away in South Philly. This year they’re hoping to give away 1,000 frozen birds.

Each bird came with a card from Meek addressed to “My Philly fam.”

“I am thankful for you and for all your support during this time. I wish you a safe and belssed Thanksgiving,” the card said.

As celeb gossipsite TMZ put it, “Meek ain’t free, but his turkeys are. Happy Thanksgiving!”

Meanwhile, updates keep coming about the rapper’s controversial re-imprisonment on violations of probation stemming from a 2008 gun possession case.

Meek got two to four years from Judge Genece Brinkley, against the recommendations of his probation officer and the prosecutor handling the case. She ruled that he violated his probation for three incidents: being arrested for riding a dirtbike, an arrest after a scuffle with over-aggressive fans in the St. Louis airport (both of those charges were later dropped) and testing positive for Percocet. 

According to TMZ, Meek’s defense team is planning to mention Judge Genece Brinkley’s brief career as an actress in the ongoing fight, to argue that she is “jealous” of Meek’s fame.

It turns out the Court of Common Pleas judge had a brief but memorable stint in 1993’s “Tell My Mom I Love Her,” as the mother of the title who can be seen dramatically grieving for her shot son in one scene that is now on Youtube.

They have previously argued in court papers that Brinkley holds enmity with Meek for not ditching Jay-Z’s talent management company Roc Nation to sign with Philly-based entrepreneur Charlie Mack, and for refusing her request to cover a Boyz II Men song.

Ex-quarterback Colin Kaepernick also recently spoke with Meek in prison and reported that the rapper is “in good spirits.”

“Spoke to Meek Mill & he wanted ppl to know regardless of his unjust situation, he’s in good spirits & humbled by the support the people have shown him,” Kaepernick tweeted.  “We’ll continue to fight against the harsh sentencing practices that have affected Meek & millions of other POC for generations.”