Rikers Island inmates are losing Christmas over backlash from a visit by Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick, who visited to discuss police brutality and offer encouragement to inmates, presence was an unwanted sight for the Correction Officers Benevolent Association. Several factors played a role into their disdain for Kaepernick’s Tuesday visit. Regardless, The New York Daily News details why Union officials canceled a scheduled Christmas tree lighting celebration for inmates.
“This will only encourage inmates to continue to attack Correction Officers at a time when we need more protection,” said Elias Husamudeen, president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association.
The tree lighting ceremony is being held on Rikers Island in front of the Samuel L. Perry Center on Tuesday night. The union typically pays for a coffee truck and also supplies doughnuts for officers in attendance.
New York City Hall spokesman Eric Phillips meanwhile applauded Kaepernick .
This is a guy using his celebrity to help young adults turn their lives around, to his own significant professional cost. He should be applauded.
The New York Post gave an extensive breakdown of Kaepernick’s day with inmates and his work to creative productive change.
The morning started off with Kaepernick attending breakfast in the warden’s office before heading over to the “Peace Center” where he conducted two 45 minutes sessions with prisoners clad in gray jumpsuits. The first group included 14 inmates including six adults and eight adolescents.
A volunteer at the jail introduced Kapernick, who gave a 10 minute talk before fielding questions and signing autographs. “They were basic questions, like what’s it like to play in the NFL,” said the source. “Then they asked him about taking a knee, why was he doing it. He said he was doing it to call attention to police brutality. He said he felt that, being a man of means, he felt obligated to take a stance on what he believes in.”
In the second session, which consisted of four adults and 10 adolescents, Kaepernick was more direct on his feelings about police brutality, the source said. “He came out of the gate with the police brutality… and he said the NFL was keeping him out of the game for speaking out.”
The source described the atmosphere in the room as calm and added that Kaepernick did not say anything derogatory about the police or corrections officers. “He was telling them how they could do better in life, that they’ve made mistakes, that this wasn’t the end for them, that they could go on to do good things,” he said.
The visit was arranged by “100 Suits for 100 Men” which helps inmates with suits upon leaving prison. Kaepernick has previously donated toward the non-profit organization.