Killing of Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility

Pictured: Mid-State Correctional Facility

Albany, NY - The death of Messiah Nantwi, beaten to death at the hands of corrections officers under the watch of National Guard troops at Mid-State Correctional Facility on March 1st, is an example of the brutality in our prison system that advocates have been loudly protesting since the murder of Robert Brooks across the street at Marcy Correctional Facility. The circumstances of Mr. Nantwi’s death, reported by nine incarcerated individuals who witnessed the assault, highlight attempts at a coverup. The circumstances also raise questions regarding the role of National Guard troops who are supplementing security at correctional facilities across the State due to the illegal corrections officer strike. 

Continuing to ignore the structural changes that need to be made within our prison system will result in more deaths and abuse. The harrowing footage of Mr. Brook’s murder showed the world the type of abuse that advocates have been decrying for decades. The strike has served as a distraction from abuse and these necessary changes. As corrections officers maintain their illegal strike action, multiple deaths have occured due to delayed essential services, suicide, and now assault. 

Witnesses to the assault of Mr. Nantwi reported that many of the officers were not wearing body-cameras. They claim that a sergeant who did happen to be wearing a body camera positioned himself facing away from the assault while ordering Mr. Nantwi to stop resisting, in a likely attempt to create an alternative narrative. The victim was dragged away to an ambulance with a witness reporting that the extent of his injuries made him unrecognizable. Afterwards, in a particularly egregious act of humiliation, incarcerated individuals were ordered to clean up the bloody scene. We hope that a coroner's report is released in a timely manner and conducted in good faith. 

We are left with many questions. Aside from the lack of accountability and responsibility on the part of corrections officers, which is expected, we are concerned that the introduction of the National Guard to these facilities has introduced a new measure of unaccountability. Not required to wear body-cameras or undergo the same training as corrections officers, are we introducing a new layer of secrecy to an already opaque system? 

Additionally, what protections are in place for the brave men who went public with their accounts of the assault? We call on DOCCS, its Commissioner, and Governor Hochul to ensure that incarcerated whistleblowers are removed from situations where they are vulnerable to retaliation. We must keep a close eye on the status of the individuals who came forward with their stories to deter retaliation and be prepared to respond to indications of retaliation.