January 1, 2025
Re: Official Statement from the Remedy Project Co-Director and Co-Founder
David Z. Simpson Regarding the Murder of Robert Brooks
The murder of Robert Brooks by 14 correctional officers is not just a tragedy—it
is an indictment of a justice system rooted in a destructive culture that values control
and dehumanization over rehabilitation and humanity. This is the culture of mass
incarceration. This is the mindset born of slavery and Jim Crow that continues to infect
our institutions and destroy our communities.
We cannot pretend anymore. Robert Brooks' death is not an isolated incident; it
is part of a pattern of violence and impunity that has plagued our prisons for decades.
The idea of a few “bad apples” must be rejected. This system was built on inequality,
and its abuses are no accident—they are its design.
At The Remedy Project, we believe in dismantling this broken system and
replacing it with one that values human dignity and fosters true safety for all. We are a
youth-led, system-impacted movement fighting for transparency, accountability, and
change.
Robert Brooks’ murder is a call to action. We must confront the culture that
allows these atrocities to occur. We must challenge the mindset that permits such
inhumanity. And we must commit to building a future where justice means healing, not
harm.
It is time to stand up and demand better—for Robert, for his family, and for every
person impacted by this system. Together, we can and will create a more just and
humane world.
“The idea of a few bad apples must be rejected. The rot runs deep, and it’s time to uproot it.”
David Z. Simpson
Co-founder, The Remedy Project
January 1, 2025
Re: Official Statement from the Remedy Project Co-Director and Co-Founder
David Z. Simpson Regarding the Murder of Robert Brooks
The murder of Robert Brooks by 14 correctional officers is not just a tragedy—it
is an indictment of a justice system rooted in a destructive culture that values control
and dehumanization over rehabilitation and humanity. This is the culture of mass
incarceration. This is the mindset born of slavery and Jim Crow that continues to infect
our institutions and destroy our communities.
We cannot pretend anymore. Robert Brooks' death is not an isolated incident; it
is part of a pattern of violence and impunity that has plagued our prisons for decades.
The idea of a few “bad apples” must be rejected. This system was built on inequality,
and its abuses are no accident—they are its design.
At The Remedy Project, we believe in dismantling this broken system and
replacing it with one that values human dignity and fosters true safety for all. We are a
youth-led, system-impacted movement fighting for transparency, accountability, and
change.
Robert Brooks’ murder is a call to action. We must confront the culture that
allows these atrocities to occur. We must challenge the mindset that permits such
inhumanity. And we must commit to building a future where justice means healing, not
harm.
It is time to stand up and demand better—for Robert, for his family, and for every
person impacted by this system. Together, we can and will create a more just and
humane world.
“The idea of a few bad apples must be rejected. The rot runs deep, and it’s time to uproot it.”
David Z. Simpson
Co-founder, The Remedy Project
