Kalief Browder Thesis

Kalief Browder was only 16 when he was sent to Rikers Island, one of the cruelest juvenile prisons in the nation, for being accused of stealing a backpack but with no evidence to support. He spent around two years in solitary confinement which drove him to attempt suicide many times. He was abused every day by inmates and prison guards for no reason at all. In his three years he was waiting for a trial which should not have taken longer than six months to complete. His mother spoke out to the public, waiting for his justice to be repaid every day and for her sons return. Kaliefs family life was not perfect, but he never felt less than blessed asa child. He was adopted as a young child with his three brother, Akeem, Deion, Shihahn,

Walking home from a party one night, a police stops Kalief and asks to bring him to the station. Kalief was confused but did not object. The cops had told him that it should not take long and he should be let out by the end of the night, ‘’That one night turned into three years’’ says Jennifer Gonnerman, author of the article ‘’Kalief Browder 1993-2015’’. The police began questioning Kalief about that night, he was accused of stealing a backpack with a large amount of money and an iPod touch (including a few other things) by a spanish man he had never seen before. Kalief was sent to court and convicted of robbery although there was no core evidence and the victim didn’t even show up. From there he was sent to Rikers Island. He was supposed to be imprisoned for a max of three months but was kept there for almost three years. His court dates kept being rescheduled and pushed back later because in New York, the only state which allows this, the judge may schedule appeals for when they wish to have them. This caused Kaliefs majority of three months in prison, to last three years. (‘’Kalief Browder

When he got home, his family claimed he was not the same. He felt like he was being watched at all times and that the police were looking for him to take him back to prison again. He went to a mental facility to get help and was sent home with antidepressants (etc.). After that, life began looking up for him. He was starting college and doing extremely well. He had a 3.5 grade point average and was always keeping up with homework, trying his hardest. Someone anonymously paid for Kaliefs tuition which made him more committed to getting his degree. He and his family were also speaking publicly about his story and trying to gain justice, not only for Kalief but for other kids and young adults with stories just like his. He was invited on talk shows, such as The View, and Jay Z created a documentary about him. Although these all seem as uplooks, many people from Kaliefs hometown believed he and his family were doing it for the money. He was verbally attacked and physically as well. Walking home one day he was attacked with a knife and stabbed several times. The next day, only he and his mother were home. Kalief hung himself with an air conditioning cord in the upstairs window. When the community heard, riots were struck. People were furious saying ‘’Kalief deserved better’’ and ‘’He didn’t kill himself, the system of government did’’ (Time: The Kalief Browder