Meek Mill pays bail for 20 women so they can spend Christmas with their families

Rapper Meek Mill has received widespread praise online for paying for 20 women's bail fees.

Meek Mill - real name Robert Rihmeek Williams - co-founded non-profit organisation REFORM Alliance alongside businesswoman Clara Wu Tsai, investor Daniel S Loeb, businessman Michael G Rubin and fellow musician Jay-Z.

The organisation was started in 2019 after the rapper was released on bail, having been re-imprisoned and sentenced to between two and four years in jail for violating his parole by 'popping a wheelie' in 2017.

According to REFORM, Mill has paid the bail for 20 women at the Riverside Correctional facility in Philadelphia this Christmas so they can be reunited with their families.

ZUMA Press, Inc/ Alamy Stock Photo

Five women were released on Saturday 24 December to be reunited with their families for Christmas and the other 15 will hopefully be released sometime this week.

As well as paying for the women's bail, REFORM - which 'aims to transform probation and parole by changing laws, systems and culture to create real pathways to work and wellbeing' - said the 20 women were also given 'a gift card to purchase groceries or gifts for the holidays'.

Mill added: "For families impacted by the criminal justice system, the holidays can be an extremely challenging time."

@reform/ Instagram

In an Instagram post shared by Robert Brooks and Reform, Mill explained why he felt driven to pay for the women's bail fees.

He said: "It was devastating for me to be away from my son during the holidays when I was incarcerated, so I understand what these women and their families are going through.

"No one should have to spend the holidays in jail simply because they can't afford bail. I'm grateful for the opportunity to help these women be with their families and loved ones during this special time of year."

@reform/ Instagram

Fans of the 'All Eyes on You' rapper have since flooded to social media to commend his aiding of the 20 women.

One user wrote: "I love these Christmas gestures."

"BRAVO!!!!! WHAT A WONDERFUL THING TO DO!!!!!" another said.

A third commented: "This is what being a blessing means..nothing more important than keeping families united..Bless him too."

A final resolved: "This is what celebrities should be doing with their money! What a dude."

Twitter

Mill spent five months in prison for violating his parole opposed to between two-and-four years - a social media movement called #FreeMeekMill having campaigned for his freedom.

REFORM Alliance's website states: "Although Meek had the resources and public platform to fight his case, his case is only one of millions. The vast majority of people trapped in the system don’t get their stories told, or have the resources to fight back.

"On January 23, 2019, a world-class group of philanthropists and activists came together to launch the REFORM Alliance to change this."