Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages Releases Statement on the Verdict in the Murder of Robert Brooks

“New York has both a moral and constitutional obligation to protect and care for individuals in its custody. What happened to Robert Brooks was a travesty, and today’s conviction of David Kingsley for his role in the murder of Mr. Brooks is significant. However, the not guilty verdicts for Matthew J. Galliher and Nicholas J. Kieffer reflect the ongoing dehumanization of Black lives within our criminal justice system. There is still much work to be done to ensure real accountability and oversight in New York’s correctional facilities. The legislature passed several measures in the Prison Reform Omnibus Bill that move us in the right direction. The Governor must sign this bill into law to begin addressing these failures, but much stronger action is still needed. We cannot allow a guilty verdict to become a death sentence. This is true for David Kingsley, just as it should have been for Robert Brooks and the countless New Yorkers who have lost their lives inside the state’s correctional system.”