General News Kalief Browder Commits Suicide

DISCLAIMER: Not sure whether this might belong under the news section?

Without a doubt this is murder. Not in the sense of someone directly killing him, but in the sense of breaking his spirit, crushing his hopes. He entered as someone who might have been something of a petty thief who had strayed off his path. If the punishment for such a crime, perhaps not even fully proven, is psychological torture to the point of making him suicidal, it is an unfair system, a rotten system. Add to that that our statistics hate black people in that it likes to put them in jail for arbitrary reasons left, right and center, you very clearly have a racist system.

A little reminder: The emancipation from discrimination of black people as a minority group is far from finished.
Speaking up and telling the world that better is not necessarily good is always worthwhile. Especially in times when progress is actually being rolled back in many parts of the world, notably the US (e.g. Ferguson), but also Europe.

 

He was sixteen when he was put in a jail, where he spent three years awaiting a trial. For an allegedly stolen book bag? WTF!?! Is this the middle ages? JFC!

 

That is awful.
The system in our world is so warped...

 

God he was only 22!

 

Doesn't that violate the 6th amendment? He probably could have sued and made a lot of money.

 

Unfortunately, the sixth amendment is more of an ideal than a real world standard.

Especially with the increasing imprisonment rates in this country, there is essentially no accountability for the carrying out of speedy trials. Kalief Browder wasn't media worthy before his suicide because he was living under circumstances that hundreds of detained citizens are currently living under.

Not to mention, you have little incentive to sue for money when you are still trying to beat a case to earn your freedom.

 

Very sad case and the only politician who has spoken publicly about how saddened he is by this is Rand Paul of all people. If only Rand Paul was for gay rights he have my vote cause he will give rights back to the people where they belong but of course gay rights are considered rights to him.

 

Yes, and arguably the 8th, because $10k bail for petty theft is insane. This story is whacked on so many levels. How was it allowed to happen?

 

Still, 3 years seems like a long time to wait for trial. It's really sad if that's reality because it's definitely violating the Bill of Rights...

When he committed suicide, it sounded like he was free. It said he entered his home and did it.

 

Solitary confinement for anyone, but especially a teenager, should be considered unethical. You have a healthy kid who was pushed to taking his own life, all over a backpack.

The US has no room to criticize Russia, China, or Iran over their human rights records. We need to get our priorities in line.