Carmelo Anthony is not only the star player for the New York Knicks, he’s also a native New Yorker. The NBA star decided to visit Rikers Island in New York City to meet and talk with some of the institution’s younger inmates (ages 16-21) and offer them encouragement. The infamous correctional facility houses over 10,000 inmates and is one of the largest in the world. The visit of course had an affect on the inmates but it touched Anthony as well.
via ESPN:
“I was just trying to hear their stories. A lot of people don’t [give them] a chance to let them voice their opinion,” Anthony said. “So getting out there kind of put a lot of things in perspective for myself, talking to the kids. It was touching to me, just to be in there, being in their environment and seeing what they go through on a day-to-day basis.”
“It was just something I wanted to do,” he said. “… I just went there and walked through Rikers and talked to the youth. It was deep, man. It was life changing.”
He added: “Even though it was a tough day for me to kind of be in there, just see that environment and be in there, it was inspiring at the same time.”
Footage from Anthony’s visit will be air on the third episode of the Vice Sports series “Stay Melo.” It was really cool of Antony to visit the inmates and offer hope. Some are innocent but are in there for years because they can’t afford bail and are waiting for their case to be heard. I’m sure it meant a lot to them that someone is thinking of them.
Rest in peace Kalief Browder. We haven’t forgotten about you.
