January 1, 2025
Re: Official Statement from the Remedy Project Board Member "Uncle" Selwyn Jones Regarding the Murder of Robert Brooks
Today, I stand before you not only as the grieving uncle of a nephew who endured the horrors of this justice system but also as a new board member of The Remedy Project (TRP), a beacon of hope in the fight against a deeply flawed and inhumane system.
To the family of Robert Brooks and the people of America, I offer my deepest sympathies. I know your pain because I have lived it. Losing someone to the violence, neglect, and abuse perpetrated by our prison system is a wound that never fully heals. Yet, I stand here today, not defeated by this pain, but galvanized by it—committed to making sure that Robert’s tragic death is not just another statistic or another ignored cry for justice.
Robert Brooks' murder at the hands of prison officials is not an isolated incident; it is the latest chapter in a long history of systemic violence and unchecked power within our prisons. That it happened on camera, with 14 officers involved, is both horrifying and damning. It confirms what we at TRP—and countless others—have been saying for years: this system is broken beyond repair, and it is time for America to wake up.
For decades, we have destroyed lives, torn apart families, and created unhealthy citizens and communities under the guise of "justice." What is justice when prisons breed violence and despair, when people are stripped of their humanity, and when those tasked with care and security become instruments of cruelty? Robert's story, along with the horrors faced by women at Doblin and countless others hosted on TRP’s platform, proves this truth.
Our prisons are in a crisis. But we, as a nation, have the tools to heal. That’s why I’ve joined TRP, a grassroots movement led by passionate students, formerly incarcerated advocates, and supporters who refuse to let this crisis continue unchecked. Under the leadership of Co-Founder and Co-Director David Z. Simpson, TRP has identified the root cause of our nation's addiction to mass incarceration: a culture and mindset born of slavery and the Jim Crow era. These evils have seeped into the very fabric of our justice system, creating a cycle of dehumanization, oppression, and destruction that continues to plague marginalized communities.
The idea of a few "bad apples" in our system must be rejected once and for all. What happened to Robert Brooks—and what continues to happen in prisons across this nation—is not the result of a few rogue officers. This is a system-wide problem, enabled by a toxic culture that normalizes cruelty and silence. The truth is glaring: most of the apples are spoiled, and the rot runs deep.
If TRP were properly supported—if it were functional in every prison in America—we could dismantle this broken system and replace it with one that prioritizes healing, rehabilitation, and accountability. That is why I have joined TRP and why I am committed to its mission of growth. We cannot ignore TRP any longer. We must stand with this movement to end the destructive culture and mindset that has fueled our nation’s prisons for far too long.
Robert Brooks' murder must be the turning point. This is our moment to confront the truth, to change our mindset, and to build a future where justice is not synonymous with suffering. We cannot remain silent. We cannot look away. Together, we can heal this nation.
Let us honor Robert Brooks, not just with words, but with action.
Uncle Selwyn
Board Member, The Remedy Project
uncleselwynjones@gmail.com
January 1, 2025
Re: Official Statement from the Remedy Project Board Member "Uncle" Selwyn Jones Regarding the Murder of Robert Brooks
Today, I stand before you not only as the grieving uncle of a nephew who endured the horrors of this justice system but also as a new board member of The Remedy Project (TRP), a beacon of hope in the fight against a deeply flawed and inhumane system.
To the family of Robert Brooks and the people of America, I offer my deepest sympathies. I know your pain because I have lived it. Losing someone to the violence, neglect, and abuse perpetrated by our prison system is a wound that never fully heals. Yet, I stand here today, not defeated by this pain, but galvanized by it—committed to making sure that Robert’s tragic death is not just another statistic or another ignored cry for justice.
Robert Brooks' murder at the hands of prison officials is not an isolated incident; it is the latest chapter in a long history of systemic violence and unchecked power within our prisons. That it happened on camera, with 14 officers involved, is both horrifying and damning. It confirms what we at TRP—and countless others—have been saying for years: this system is broken beyond repair, and it is time for America to wake up.
For decades, we have destroyed lives, torn apart families, and created unhealthy citizens and communities under the guise of "justice." What is justice when prisons breed violence and despair, when people are stripped of their humanity, and when those tasked with care and security become instruments of cruelty? Robert's story, along with the horrors faced by women at Doblin and countless others hosted on TRP’s platform, proves this truth.
Our prisons are in a crisis. But we, as a nation, have the tools to heal. That’s why I’ve joined TRP, a grassroots movement led by passionate students, formerly incarcerated advocates, and supporters who refuse to let this crisis continue unchecked. Under the leadership of Co-Founder and Co-Director David Z. Simpson, TRP has identified the root cause of our nation's addiction to mass incarceration: a culture and mindset born of slavery and the Jim Crow era. These evils have seeped into the very fabric of our justice system, creating a cycle of dehumanization, oppression, and destruction that continues to plague marginalized communities.
The idea of a few "bad apples" in our system must be rejected once and for all. What happened to Robert Brooks—and what continues to happen in prisons across this nation—is not the result of a few rogue officers. This is a system-wide problem, enabled by a toxic culture that normalizes cruelty and silence. The truth is glaring: most of the apples are spoiled, and the rot runs deep.
If TRP were properly supported—if it were functional in every prison in America—we could dismantle this broken system and replace it with one that prioritizes healing, rehabilitation, and accountability. That is why I have joined TRP and why I am committed to its mission of growth. We cannot ignore TRP any longer. We must stand with this movement to end the destructive culture and mindset that has fueled our nation’s prisons for far too long.
Robert Brooks' murder must be the turning point. This is our moment to confront the truth, to change our mindset, and to build a future where justice is not synonymous with suffering. We cannot remain silent. We cannot look away. Together, we can heal this nation.
Let us honor Robert Brooks, not just with words, but with action.
Uncle Selwyn
Board Member, The Remedy Project
uncleselwynjones@gmail.com
