ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The family of Robert Brooks joined the “End Prison Violence” campaign, urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a prison reform bill.

The gathering took place at Assemblyman Demond Meeks’ office, where former inmates and advocates called for change.

The state indicted 10 prison guards in connection with Brooks’ death. He was severely beaten in a medical exam room at Marcy Correctional Facility last December and died the next day.

“This was a living, breathing person. My son. My firstborn. My diamond in the rough,” Robert Ricks, Brooks’ father, said.

Ricks said his son was working to improve his life before his death.

“He would say, “Dad, I’m studying for my G.E.D., dad I took my G.E.D. test, dad, I passed my G.E.D. test. Dad, I’m taking sign language classes. Dad, I got my sign language certificate,’” Ricks said.

Ricks and others are advocating for prison reform and urging Gov. Hochul to sign a bill with nine measures aimed at keeping prisoners safe and holding prison staff accountable.

The bill includes 24/7 surveillance cameras and timely notice of death to families. The Senate passed it in June.

“We are waiting, hoping, praying that she will sign them into law,” Ricks said.

Assemblyman Meeks supports these changes. He held the gathering in front of his office with advocates standing on the lawn and sidewalk.

“This omnibus bill takes long overdue steps to bring accountability and transparency into our prison system,” Meeks said.

On Monday, four former prison guards pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Brooks’ death. Brooks’ son said this happened due to the support his family received.

“I want to say they did not do this out of the kindness, out of their heart,” Robert Brooks Jr. said. “They did this because they are scared. They did not think that we would all come together and stay on this and stick on this story for as long as we have.”

Brooks Jr. thanked everyone who came for sharing their stories, saying he knows his father is watching.

“My father is looking down, not just on me, not just on my grandfather, not just on our family, he’s looking down at everybody, and he is proud,” he said.

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