NYC Approves “Kalief’s Law” To Honor Black Teen Tortured In Jail

The “Kalief’s Law” passed in NYC is to make sure that people get speedy trial after they’ve been arrested.

The “Kalief’s Law” was named after Kalief Browder, a 16-year-old black teen who spent three years in jail awaiting trial which led him to commit suicide .

Browder was accused of stealing a backpack and jailed because his parents couldn’t afford bail. He spent three years in New York’s famous jail complex, Riker’s Island, where he was starved, tortured and confined to a 6×8 foot cell.  His case was dismissed, but he had already been psychologically damaged.

The black teen unfortunately committed suicide in 2015 as a result of depression and injustice he faced while in jail.

According to reports, Browder was isolated in a special cell for two years where he developed mental issues. The justice department sued jail last year after Mayor Bill de Blasio said that no under-18 would spend time in such prison.

Glenn Martin, a criminal justice activist, said “The bill’s passage in the Assembly by the overwhelming margin of 138-2 shows that our lawmakers are finally hearing the voices of the many organizations and thousands of activists who have been fighting for a more just criminal justice system.”

On Friday, June 11, the New York State Senate activated the Kalief Law and hope the law will help innocent men and women to get justice before it’s too late. It’s sad that a young boy had to die to attract attention to the problem.

It is important that NYC has started a law like this, but it should be passed all across the country, because people of color practically in every state don’t exercise their fast trail right.

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