The older brother of the late Kalief Browder, Akeem, is running for New York City mayor, The Huffington Post is reporting. âI lost my mother, I lost my brother,â he told the publication. âI have nothing left to lose.â
The 34-year-old made the major announcement yesterday (June 19). Akeem believes that with the experiences of his family that he's witnessed, as well as the experiences that he's faced himself growing up in the city; he has the knowledge to create change in NYC for the better.
âItâs not a personal vendetta why Iâm running for mayor but if weâre having someone represent the people, it better be someone who isnât far removed from the people and better understands the people so they can better their lives,â he said. âDo whatâs right by the people or get out of office, get out of the way of people who want to try and make a change.â
Kalief committed suicide in 2015. This was just two years after he was released from Rikers Island, where he served three years and almost two of these three years were in solitary confinement. He was only 22 years old. Kalief and Akeem's mother died last year from a "broken heart," which stemmed from complications brought on from a heart attack. She was 63.
Akeem is now ready to take on incumbent mayor Bill De Blasio in the next election season. He aims to "prioritize issues of criminal justice, such as identifying better ways to decrease criminalization, increase resources to inmates with mental illnesses and finding more effective ways for re-entry."
Akeem added: âThese candidates are far removed from the problems we face in New York. They donât understand what we go through. It takes someone who has been impacted by the law and justice system and has the info, knowledge and drive to reel it back in and put it back into the right channels.â
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