Last week, Thursday, in NYC, emotions were high, tension was explosive and decisions were made to build four new jails and to close Rikers Island by 2026. A concept that myself at 15 years old Kalief at 16 years old could never conceive. Of course the vision to Shutdownrikers that is responsible for trauma in people like me and my brother and left a horrendous stain in New York’s history is an epic development. - As many know I have taken the torch in my family's name to advo

When he came home after three years on Rikers Island, NY, and two years spent in solitary confinement, Kalief Browder was changed. He was still a child when he was arrested, only 16 years old, and he was never convicted of any crime. He was stuck in detention all that time because he could not afford bail. But he paid an even higher price. Kalief tried to hang himself in solitary, then again after he was released. He tried to go back to school, but was in and out of mental in