Never Forget: Kalief Browder Trends Amidst Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict
Amidst the shocking Kyle Rittenhouse verdict that caused outrage across the nation, many are remembering Kalief Browder, the young black man left awaiting trial in Rikers Island for allegedly stealing a backpack. He took his own life after being subject to abuse and years of solitary confinement.
Browder was just 16-years-old when he was sent to Rikers Island, for stealing a book bag, a charge that was later dropped.
Kalief Browder took his own life on June 6, 2015. KK (Killer Kyle) won’t his own life. Will be on tour! pic.twitter.com/hKzXV9fBtL
— Manual aka Murf (@ibemurf007) November 19, 2021
He spent over 1,000 days in the infamous Rikers awaiting trial, including 700 days in solitary confinement because he did not plead guilty to a crime he didn’t commit. The backpack was also non-existent. Kalief was beaten and abused by guards, went through mental torture, all while he waited for trial.
RELATED: Inmates Forced to Run Rikers Island Prison After Guards Don’t Show Up
After prosecutors finally dropped the charge in 2013, Browder went to school and tried to get his life back to normal, but, he ended up having three psychiatric hospitalizations and two prior suicide attempts. In 2015, he took his own life.
Right now, I’m thinking about Kalief Browder, then 16 yr old that SUPPOSEDLY stole a BACK PACK endured Riker’s Island for 3 YEARS without a trial, THEN was released without being convicted of a crime. That CHILD was locked up and commited NO crime
— Biden/Harris 2020💕💚 (@deebarc1) November 19, 2021