Freedom, define freedom. The dictionary defines freedom as the condition of being free, the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints. Imagine loosing that freedom. Imagine loosing that freedom for the rest of your life. Imagine loosing that freedom over a crime that you didnt commit.

Well that is exactly the situation that is being faced by MCKINLEY J PHIPPS inmate # 445656 in Winn Correctional Center. Innocent until proven guilty, am I right? Well I guess Im wrong because in this situation (which I have been studying) there has been no proof of McKinley Phipps being guilty. McKinleys occupation is rapper, and for some reason, his rap lyrics and rap alias were used against him in his case. Tell me, where is the fairness in that. If Arnold Schwarzenegger were facing a murder charge do you think they would use his movies against him? Do you think they would show footage that depicts him murdering people in the court room? NO, because Arnold is has riches and fame, two things that McKinley Phipps lacks. So because a man lacks riches and fame does that make him guilty? If I can say so, HELL NO! But in this court system we are living in today, I guess it does convict a man.

McKinley is not like most rappers who you see on TV who glorify drugs, money, murder and violence. He simply tells a story of what he has seen growing up on the streets of Louisiana, sort of like a movie director. Do you fault Oliver Stone for his graphic depiction of the movie SCARFACE? Well dont convict McKinley Phipps guilty in your mind. McKinley has been rapping since he was 7 and even had a recording contract where he put out an album under the alias Lil Mac the Lyrical Midget in 1989 at the age of 12 years old. So why would an established rapper, who has been in the business since the age of 12, jeopardize his career by murdering somebody at a club. A club! Where there are nothing but loads of people, and loads of people who know who McKinley Phipps is.

Before the start of this case McKinley Phipps was in the state of forming the BLACK LION COLITION. A group of young men that encouraged young adults to be more involved in political society. McKinley and the BLACK LION COLITION also were against rappers that record songs against other rappers in a form of aggression. While rappers like 50 Cent are glorifying recording records talking about murdering rappers, McKinley Phipps was totally against that. He figured that hip-hop had already lost two of it's kings in Christopher Wallace (BIG) and Tupac Shakur (2pac), why make more bodies over lyrics?

McKinley Phipps has been through so much. In the start of this case in March of 2000 he was facing the death penalty. Imagine is we would have murdered this man while he pleads his innocents. He has been in jail for over 5 years and still to this day pleads his innocents. I personally think its time for a change, and so I ask you if you agree that the McKinley J Phipps case just does not add up then sign this petition. Demand the state of Louisiana consider his appeal; demand they give this another look before we sacrifice another life to this poor excuse for a justice system.