Statement
MomsRising Celebrates the Life of Venida Browder, Pledges to Continue the Fight for Criminal Justice Reform
October 19, 2016
Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996
On October 14th, Venida Browder, a civil rights activist whose late son Kalief Browder became a symbol of America’s deeply broken criminal justice system, died of complications from a heart attack. Browder’s son Kalief committed suicide in June 2015, after spending three years in New York City’s Riker Island jail on a robbery charge that was ultimately dismissed. Browder, who could not afford bail, refused to take a plea deal that would set him free, maintaining his innocence. After her son’s death, Venida Browder became a tireless civil rights activists fighting to raise the age of criminal responsibility, and became an advocate for bail reform and the right to a speedy trial.
Monifa Bandele, Senior Campaign Director for MomsRising.org, an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than one million moms and their families, issued the following statement expressing condolences to the Browder family and pledging a commitment to join them in their call for criminal justice reform:
“Rest in Peace Venida Browder. MomsRising expresses our condolences to the Browder family and joins them in their continued called for reform and justice.
“Venida Browder, a mother and activist, became a champion for the rights of all children and for criminal justice reform after the wrongful incarceration and untimely death of her son. At the age of 16, Kalief Browder was jailed without trial for three years because his family could not afford bail. During that time, he was beaten and tortured, only to be found innocent of the charges against him.
“Venida dedicated her life to bringing attention to the structural racism and failures of the criminal justice system that contributed to her son’s wrongful imprisonment and untimely death. We celebrate Venida’s quest for justice for her child, and for all children.
“Everyday mothers like Venida Browder are forced to mourn the loss of their children because of state violence and a criminal justice system that treats black children as less deserving of justice than their white counterparts. This is not okay. No mother should have to fear that a loved one could be harmed at the hands of those charged his protection - and no mother should have to watch as their innocent child is tortured and abused in prison because of their inability to make bail.
“We remember and honor Kalief Browder. We remember and honor Venida Browder. We stand with them in their call for comprehensive criminal justice reform at every level of government and will continue to fight to make their quest for justice a reality for all Americans.”