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I learned about this story while watching Democracy Now! last night and find it absolutely sickening.
Police Officers in The Bronx, NY falsely arrested Kalief Browder while walking with friends one night and for 3 years in Rikers Island he was denied a trial-he spent two years in solitary confinement, often with Prison Guards starving him. New York is only one of two states that treats 16 and 17 year olds as adults and houses them with the general population.
In The Bronx a trial is a RARE thing-up to 95% of all cases are plea bargain deals where defendants must admit guilt-yet Kalief was wrongly accused by rogue Cops and did not ever want to admit guilt-and rightfully so. So his trial was just postponed-and postponed-and postponed for 3 ***** YEARS!
Rikers Island is a horrible place-the majority of inmates are TECHNICALLY INNOCENT and are awaiting trial!
This happened a while ago and has been talked about before. With all the racism of white cops in this country can't we find something a little more relevant...like within the last 2 years perhaps. This rampant racism and all these innocent people at Rikers, you'd think we could find something a bit newer.
Anyone, I'm surprised someone didn't start a kind of free Kalief fund or something and some members of the community could get together the money for bail? I'm sure his lawsuit will pay handsomely.
This happened a while ago and has been talked about before. With all the racism of white cops in this country can't we find something a little more relevant...like within the last 2 years perhaps. This rampant racism and all these innocent people at Rikers, you'd think we could find something a bit newer.
Meh.
What are you even talking about? Nobody mentioned race except for you. How do you know the Cops were white?
This isn't about racist cops, it is about upholding the Constitution of The United States and due process-an impartial and speedy trial. The entire justice system failed this kid.
How is this not recent? He just got of jail LAST YEAR and the civil case is ongoing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SourD
lmao.. a 16 year old in Rikers....How foolish of you to even believe this.......Holy ****.
I have no clue what it is you're trying to say. Maybe try again without the cursing? Use your big boy words...
Bail was $3000 but he was remanded? What was the probation violation for? Did they stack the charges? Was he in jail for possbily stealing a back pack or was it for the probation violation?
I read an article about this in The New Yorker (I believe the current issue, or the immediate last one). As another poster noted, the main issue is the failure of the court system to provide a 'speedy trial', and the loopholes the prosecutor may use keep the case going without a trial.
It was a travesty of justice. However, travesty and justice seem to go hand in hand.
A 'trial', in this case, would mainly have meant that the owner of the backpack would appear on the witness stand, testify that he saw a youth steal his backpack, and then identify the youth sitting at the defense table. Hardly a case that would have involved forensic evidence, multiple witness testimony or expert testimony. It the trial had lasted more than 30 minutes, including jury selection, I would have been surprised.
However, the youth simply refused to accept a plea bargain, even when (after several years) it would have meant his instant release due to time served.
I admire the youth for being brave enough to not be bullied into pleading 'guilty' to a crime that he maintains he did not commit.
The case was only dismissed after the backpack's owner moved out of the country. Else the young man would probably still be sitting there.
Blame the first seems to still be alive and well everywhere from Ferguson to the Big Apple. The worse things are the slower they change. Anyone expecting justice from our legal system is deluding themselves.
Last edited by CaseyB; 10-03-2014 at 06:28 AM..
Reason: language
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