For New Yorkers the story of Kalief Browder has come to symbolize all the brutality, injustice, and racism of America’s prison system. What does it say about a country whose criminal justice system can send a teenager to jail for 3 years—nearly 2 years of which were spent in solitary confinement—for a petty crime that he never committed and for which he courageously refused to plead guilty?
The responsibility lies at the feet of the prosecutors, judges, correctional officers, and all the authorities that played a part in the torture and eventual death of this bright, young person—and all those who continue to employ the same practices on thousands of others on a daily basis.
The question remains, however, what will it take to hold those people accountable and to shut down Rikers?
Join us for a discussion with Kalief’s brother and other movement activists about the challenges and the potential to build a movement strong enough to close Rikers down once and for all.
Speakers
Akeem Browder
Brother of Rikers victim Kalief Browder
Dakem Roberts
Child-prisoner-for-LIFE, Secretary-General of the Negation, and Organizer with Resist Rikers
Lichi D’Amelio
International Socialist Organization
Other speakers TBA
Wednesday, August 12
6:30pm
Sinergia Inc.
2082 Lexington at 125th, 4th Fl