JAY-Z and Meek Mill are launching a new criminal justice reform organization called REFORM alliance. The organization’s mission is to “[advance] criminal justice reform and [eliminate] outdated laws that perpetuate injustice, starting with probation and parole.” Van Jones has been appointed as CEO. Other founding partners and board members include Philadelphia 76ers co-owner and Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin, Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Brooklyn Nets co-owner Clara Wu Tsai, Third Point LLC founder Daniel S. Loeb, Galaxy Digital founder Michael E. Novogratz, and Vista Equity Partners founder Robert F. Smith. The founding parters have collectively pledged about $50 million to launch REFORM.
Following Meek Mill's re-imprisonment in November 2017, Rubin, JAY-Z, Jones, and Kraft were among the leading figures that publicly advocated for Meek’s eventual release. “Creating the REFORM Alliance is one of the most important things I’ve ever done in my life,” Meek Mill said in a statement. “If you thought my case was unfair, there are millions of others dealing with worse situations and caught up in the system without committing crimes. With this alliance, we want to change outdated laws, give people hope and reform a system that’s stacked against us.”
Read “Why Did Meek Mill Go to Prison?” on the Pitch.
