Protests erupted across New York on Monday in the wake of the release of disturbing footage depicting the fatal beating of Robert Brooks, a Black inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility.
Brooks, 43, had been serving a 12-year sentence for assault when he died in the early hours of December 10. The incident occurred at Marcy Correctional Facility, an all-male state prison located in north Albany. As the video continues to spread, many are calling for accountability and justice in the case.
Brooks, 43, had been serving a 12-year sentence for assault when he died in the early hours of December 10. The incident occurred at Marcy Correctional Facility, an all-male state prison located in north Albany. As the video spread, it quickly sparked outrage nationwide, with many calling for accountability and justice in the case.
The video footage, which was released publicly by New York Attorney General Letitia James, shows Brooks being subjected to violent and excessive force by the officers. Taken from body-worn cameras of four different officers, the footage begins on the evening of December 9, shortly after Brooks was transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility to Marcy Correctional Facility. Brooks, his hands cuffed behind his back, is seen being carried into a medical examination room by three officers. It is unclear what led to this moment.
I know it’s late on a Friday at the end of the year, but I’m posting the video here so it’s easy for all to see. It’s simply some of the most depraved behavior you will ever see from officers of the law.
— Shabazz Stuart (@ShabazzStuart) December 28, 2024
Firing isn’t enough. They beat Robert Brooks to death. pic.twitter.com/GsuSdOjcHG
In the footage, one officer can be seen shoving a white material into Brooks’ mouth while another officer holds him by the throat. The officers then proceeded to repeatedly punch Brooks in the face and groin, with one officer even striking him with a shoe. As the brutal assault continues, officers force Brooks into a seated position and then lay him flat on his back. One officer places a foot on Brooks’ torso, while another strikes him in the chest. Another officer uses his leg to restrain Brooks’ legs, continuing to punch him in the buttocks.
The violence escalates as Brooks, whose face is covered in blood, is hoisted upright and forced against a wall. Minutes later, one officer performs a sternum rub, a technique used to determine consciousness, as Brooks lies motionless on the table in his underwear. His handcuffs are removed, but he remains unresponsive. The video ends with Brooks lying lifeless.
The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice have announced that they are reviewing the case, and the New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigations has launched its own investigation into Brooks’ death. As of now, authorities have not disclosed the official cause of death.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has expressed her outrage at the incident, calling it a “senseless killing.” In response, she has appointed a new superintendent at Marcy Correctional Facility and expedited $400 million in funding to install fixed cameras and distribute body-worn cameras throughout all Department of Corrections and Community Service (DOCCS) facilities.
The tragic death of Robert Brooks has become another example of the need to continue the fight for justice and accountability within the U.S. prison system. Activists are demanding quick action to ensure that the officers involved in Brooks’ death are held accountable and that reforms are made to prevent further incidents of this nature.
