i saw something tonight that made me sick. in may of 2010, new york police department arrested a 16 year-old because he was a suspect in stealing a bookbag. he didn’t have enough money to post bail, so he was jailed for three years. no conviction, no evidence against him, nothing. during those 3 years, he attempted suicide 6 times and was starved on multiple occasions by the guards. there are videos of him being jumped and abused, sometimes by correctional officers. charges were dropped and he became a free man the summer of 2013. 2 years later he committed suicide moments after checking on his mother by hanging himself with an air conditioning cord. he was only 22 years old. a month and three days younger than myself. his name is Kalief Browder. i wanted so bad to cry, but my anger and remorse wouldn’t let me. an innocent kid with no criminal record goes to jail for 3 years and commits suicide 2 years later due to trauma and emotional baggage. i cannot understand why these things happen. it makes me question if god exists. in the event there isn’t, i will continue to pray for peace, justice, and understanding, as if there is, hoping for change to come soon.
-ratha, 10:11pm, 2.23.17