Kalief Brower, was 16 years old when he was imprisoned for 3 years in Rikers Island without getting proper trial for allegedly stealing a backpack. The New York Times reported that he committed suicide on June 6 at his parent's place in Bronx, New York City.
Two years of his life during his time there were spent in solitary confinement and not once had he stood for trial, nor was he found guilty of the crime accused at him. His case was brought up by the publication in October of 2014 and it became a symbol of what everyone can say as a sick criminal justice system. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio found the writeup about it that he made an effort to clear some outstanding cases in state courts to give way to other cases like Brower's, which could result to lessening the people inside Rikers.
Now, many would like to have his story be known to awaken people of the injustice that is going on and Democracy Now is also helping in making an effort that his innocent blood be heard as it cries out for fairness and equality. They said that apart from not being convicted, Browder also didn't plead guilty. He was firm stating his innocence that he even requested for a fair trial, but was just given some plea deals while his trial has been put on hold a number of times. His case was then dismissed leading to his release after 3 years of imprisonment, experiencing abuses from wardens.
His lawyer Paul Prestia, spoke with Buzz Feed regarding what Brower's family think and feel about this. He said that they are now blaming the unjust treatment that their loved one experienced at Rikers. They made a statement about their grief on the lost of Brower at the young age of 22 and they are now pointing fingers at New York's criminal-justice system.
