Following the killing of unarmed citizen Eric Garner by police in Staten Island and the subsequent Grand Jury decision not to indict the officer, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo met with Jay Z yesterday to discuss criminal-justice reform. According to Billboard, Cuomo and Jay linked up in Manhattan to go over a full review of the current system and to further ensure equality for everyone in the eyes of the law.
According to Cuomo's spokesperson, Melissa DeRosa, Jay and the Governor had a “productive conversation about doing a top-to-bottom review of the criminal-justice system, and how we can all work together to pass a reform package that ensures equality in the eyes of the law.” Jay's evolvement in the Garner case is already far reaching, as he has publicly been calling for a special prosecutor to take a look into the matter. Jay's reach doesn't end with the Eric Garner case though, as The Daily Kos notes, Jay has quietly paid for the tuition of Sean Bell's children, who was shot and killed by the NYPD in 2006, while also donating money to the Ferguson protestors.
Additionally, Jay reportedly helped get LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Kyrie Irving their "I Can't Breathe" shirts, which they wore as they warmed up for the Cavs and Nets game on Monday night. Jay did't wear one of the shirts himself, but he did take a photo with a number of the Nets players with the shirts on.
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