NEW YORK (Sputnik) — On Thursday, about 100 people attended the vigil in front of the Metropolitan Detention Complex in New York City.
“It’s beautiful that so many people came out to mourn the loss of a young man who obviously was in the system for no reason,” Perez said Thursday.
Perez, who helped organize the vigil, said her heart “keeps on breaking every time I hear these stories.”
#KaleifBrowder didn't kill himself. New York's justice system did. #mynypd #rip
— Sandra Balan (@SandraBalanHaha) June 9, 2015
In May 2010, Browder was arrested in New York City at the age of 16, and was released in June 2013 without being charged with a crime.
#kaleifbrowder RIP. American Black youth discriminated still. #Civilwar
— Name & Shame (@makreporter) June 11, 2015
The suicide was a direct result of Kaleif Browder’s unwarranted three-year stay in jail, according to a statement by his family published by the Los Angeles Times on Monday.
#kaleifbrowder death unbelievable. #NY #State & #US #Justice needing immediate review.
— iMak (@isiramak) June 11, 2015
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement on Monday that Browder fought hard to get out of jail and then to restart his life, but ultimately was unable to overcome the pain that emanated from his stay in solitary confinement.
@prisonculture I'm worried #kaleifbrowder's family & friends. And all of the ppl inside who witness suicide, lose their friends, while caged
— p a r v o n e h (@shirgirp) June 8, 2015
Local media reported earlier that Browder remained in prison, because his family was unable to pay the required $10,000 bail to be released.
Browder was found dead at his family’s home in Bronx, New York on Saturday after he used an air-conditioning cord to hang himself, according to the New Yorker magazine.
