A$AP Rocky is still locked up in Sweden, and several high profile people are speaking out for his release.
Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, is accused of assaulting a man in Stockholm, Sweden on June 30. He was detained on July 5 along with two other men from his entourage while prosecutors began an investigation into the charges. Rocky’s bodyguard was also investigated but they didn’t hold him. TMZ published footage of the fight that led to Rocky’s arrest. It’s unclear if the case would have been pursued without the TMZ clip going viral.
Rocky faces six years in prison if he’s charged and convicted of assaulting a man who assaulted him first.
On Friday, it was reported that authorities in Stockholm approved a request from prosecutors to hold Rocky in detention for at least six more days, claiming they believed the rapper was a flight risk. Sweden does not have a system of bail. Another hearing is scheduled for July 25 to decide if they’ll hold him any longer.
In light of the way Rocky’s situation has been unfolding, several well-known artists and politicians have voiced their support for the Harlem rapper including Diddy, Tyler the Creator, Justin Bieber, and Kanye West. Even President Donald Trump is stepping up to help Flacko (through Kanye and Kim Kardashian’s influence).
Here’s his tweet from Friday:
“Just spoke to @KanyeWest about his friend A$AP Rocky’s incarceration. I will be calling the very talented Prime Minister of Sweden to see what we can do about helping A$AP Rocky. So many people would like to see this quickly resolved!”
In another tweet, Trump addressed the flight risk concern: “Just had a very good call with @SwedishPM Stefan Lofven who assured me that American citizen A$AP Rocky will be treated fairly. Likewise, I assured him that A$AP was not a flight risk and offered to personally vouch for his bail, or an alternative…”
Kim Kardashian & President Trump discuss prison reform in June 2019
It’s interesting to see how the President got involved. The New York Times had an anonymous source offer some insight in how it unfolded: “Kanye West, the rapper, asked his wife Kim Kardashian to call President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to see if something could be done, according to a person familiar with the communications who spoke anonymously because they weren’t authorized to discuss them.”
And then: “Mr. Trump directed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to work with Swedish authorities to make sure Rocky’s conditions of detention were fair and that the State Department received regular updates.”
Trump and first lady Melania Trump addressed the situation to an audience in The Oval Office:
Yesterday, Oakland rapper G-Eazy weighed in on the situation: “This is the sad truth.. The difference between me and Rocky’s treatment in Sweden brings to mind two concepts that disgustingly go hand in hand: white privilege and systemic racism. Let’s call it what it is. He should not be behind bars right now. My heart goes out to [A$AP Rocky].”
If you recall, back in May 2018 G-Eazy was arrested in Stockholm after punching a security guard and snorting coke. According to TMZ: “There was no video of the attack, yet prosecutors allowed him to strike a deal a day-and-a-half later … he pled guilty to violent resistance, a crime of violence against an official and illegal drug possession. His sentence — a $10k fine and probation. He was also ordered to pay the security guard $900.”
He spent a total of two days behind bars. As mentioned earlier, Rocky is facing six years.
G-Eazy
A$AP Rocky’s team has started a change.org petition demanding his immediate release. The petition has been signed over 620K times. The change.org petition also offers more perspective from Rocky’s side of the situation:
“On Tuesday, July 2nd, Rocky volunteered to go to police headquarters after his performance for questioning about this incident. Rocky and his colleagues were arrested on-site.
We are surprised that something like this could happen in Sweden to people who were minding their business and forced to defend themselves from a group of assailants. This should be about justice. Rocky has been in prison for six days for the use of self defense. Upon being detained, Rocky was denied his request to counsel which is in violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to which Sweden is a signatory.
Everyone has the same rights to be treated fairly upon detainment and should be given fair and equal access to such rights. Since, he has been allowed to visit with a U.S. Embassy Consult and attorney, but only in the presence of Swedish officials. It is extremely troubling and worrisome that the laws are not being applied equally in these circumstances.
On Monday, July 8th, we filed an appeal with the Swedish Supreme Court to have Rocky released from the inhumane conditions and the clear violation of human rights. They rejected the filing, which means Rocky will remain in prison for two weeks. The conditions of the facility are horrific. Some of the inhumane conditions Rocky and his colleagues are facing at the Stockholm Detention Center include 24/7 solitary confinement, restriction of amenities for the most basic of human functions, access to palatable and life sustaining food as well as unsanitary conditions.
The prosecutor on the case has further communicated that he is working to receive an additional two-week extension for a trial to begin in mid – to end of August. To keep Rocky and his colleagues in jail pending the lengthy trial proceedings is a punishment before the fact, with no due process.”
Swedish authorities have denied the claim that conditions were inhumane, and this was surprisingly supported by Rocky’s own legal defender, Henrik Olsson Lilja, who claimed the rapper was being treated fairly. What came as no surprise was Rocky changing his legal representation shortly thereafter.
