Let My People Vote: My Battle To Restore the Civil Rights of Returning Citizens

After spending three years in prison on drug and gun charges, upon release, Meade found himself back on drugs; experiencing homelessness with little to no contact with immediate family, struggling with suicidal thoughts, and desperate for change. How he turned his life around and became an activist for people who were previously incarcerated and returning to society is at the heart of his memoir. Meade’s journey begins with a trip to a drug treatment program and a focus on the power of prayer. Knowing his grasp on sobriety was tenuous and feeling an urge to reach out to others, he went to college eventually earning a law degree. He often refers to his faith and the need for people to view “convicted felons” as returning citizens who deserve the right to vote. This viewpoint led to his appointment as head of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy. And it led to legislation that gave returning citizens the right to vote in 2018.