LOCAL 689 CAN LEARN FROM THE KALIEF BROWDER STORY On May 15, 2010, sixteen year old Bronx native Kalief Browder was arrested and charged with stealing a book bag. Unable to pay his $3,000 bail, Browder would spend the next Tracy Smith three years incarcerated in the infamous Riker’s Island Correctional Facility without ever being tried or convicted of his alleged crime. Of the 1,095 days that he spent in Riker’s Island, 800 of those days were spent in solitary confinement. Browder stood his ground, refusing to admit to a crime that he did not commit even after being offered a plea deal. Over the course of his incarceration, Kalief suffered severe beatings by both fellow inmates and officers. In May 2013, three years after being jailed and never tried, Kalief was released with all charges dropped. But he was not free. Once released, Kalief fought tirelessly to get his story heard, including lodging a $20 million dollar lawsuit against the New York Police Department, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Corrections. However, Kalief struggled to find a balance and attempted suicide several times. On June 6, 2015 Kalief Browder committed suicide. Earlier this year, Spike TV aired a six-part documentary on Kalief Browder produced by rap mogul Jay-Z and partner Harvey Weinstein. If you have not watched this powerful documentary, please do so!!! It was so disheartening --- yet so real --- in exposing the corruption and inhumanity that exists in our criminal justice system and how it literally kills incarcerated individuals and their families. This young man’s life that tragically led to his suicide caused a community of strangers to come together not just in New York, but across country. Since this tragic loss of life, we have seen communities of strangers set aside differences and start a powerful movement which led to the announcement by Mayor Bill De Blasio that Riker’s Island Correctional Facility will be shutdown. So, what does this mean for us at Local 689? 689 is under attack! Sometimes it only takes one person to stand up, but it takes a community of people to come together in solidarity, fight, and get results! There will be some battles won, and some battles lost, but greater are our chances if we unite! Just look at what the life of this one teenager! I am hopeful that despite our differences, there is light at the end of the tunnel if we unite to fight the good fight! Tracy Smith is the Executive Board Member/Shop Steward for Western Division. She can be contacted at (202) 669-4576 or tsmith@atu689.org.
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