Bronx Street Renamed After Kailef Browder On His Birthday

The Bronx has renamed a street after Kalief Browder, who would have been 24 years old today.

The northwest corner of E. 181st St. and Prospect Ave. has been renamed "Kalief Browder Way," with the street sign being unveiled Tuesday morning. Council members, as well as members of the Browder family, were in attendance.

Browder's tragic story of being sent to Rikers Island as a teenager for a crime he never committed and ultimately taking his own life following his release from the notorious prison complex, has reemerged this year. Jay Z, in partnership with The Weinstein Company, produced a documentary series called Time: The Kalief Browder Story, which focused on Browder's life both before and after his time at Rikers.

"Kalief Browder is a modern-day prophet; his story a failure of the judicial process," Jay Z said of Browder. "A young man, and I emphasize young man, who lost his life because of a broken system. His tragedy has brought atrocities to light and now we must confront the issues and events that occurred so other young men can have a chance at justice."

Browder's brothers, Akeem and Deion, have also played a significant part in keeping Browder's legacy alive, not only speaking out against offensive tributes made in Kalief's name (such as a New York City politician wanting to rename Rikers after the late Kalief) but encouraging criminal justice reform throughout the city.

Check out a video of the Kalief Browder Way unveiling below.