Rick Ross Honored With Key To The City Of Miami, But Urges Memphis To ‘Put The Guns Down’
Rick Ross touched down in his hometown in Miami, Florida to accept the keys to the city. But he used the opportunity to encourage his brothers in Memphis, Tennessee to “put the guns down.”
The “Hustlin” rapper was honored at the 5000 Role Models’ Dr. MLK Jr. Scholarship Breakfast in Miami on Monday, where he received the Key to the City of Miami from Mayor Francis Suarez and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, TMZ reports.
“I just want the youngsters to know, you have the attention of the entire world. You can never imagine the value that you actually carry. You can never imagine how much you’re really worth,” Ross said, as captured by KTVZ.
Ahead of the event, Ross took to social media to acknowledge the honor and send out a public service announcement to the city of Memphis to stop the gun violence.
“I’m headed to an event titled ‘5000 Role Models’ where we acknowledging the young leaders, the young kings, our young brothers. We gotta empower the brothers” he says to the camera.
“And while I’m speaking on this, our brothers in Memphis, I need y’all to know it’s only one way to wisdom and wealth and that’s through each other.”
Ross continued. “Put the ski mask down. Put the guns down. Let’s embrace each other. Let’s show that love. Rest in peace to all our good brothers man.”
His message came just days after Yo Gotti’s brother Anthony ‘Big Jook’ Mims was fatally shot outside a restaurant in Memphis, Fox 13 Memphis reports. Police believe the shooting was a targeted attack.
Ross’ message to the city of Memphis appears to be in response to Jook’s murder. He went on to attend the 31st annual 5000 Role Models event held on MLK Day that honors the partnership between local men in the community and the young male students within the Miami-Dade and Broward County schools.
Founded by U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, all men in attendance wear red ties and hold hands as a symbol of their solidarity to amplify the next generation of male leaders.
“This benefits young men by raising funds to send them to college, it also validates why they had to struggle to get to this place. It’s not easy being a boy in America today, especially a little Black boy,” said Wilson.
Money raised at the breakfast is helping the 100% of Wilson Scholars seniors who are all college bound.