CPR Statements Re: March against Police Brutality on Staten Island

“Police brutality that has habitually victimized and killed people of color must come to an end. Justice must be served in the killings of Eric Garner, Ramarley Graham, Mike Brown and so many others. The double standards must end with police officers being held accountable for unjustifiable, violent acts in the same way that civilians are held accountable. Local criminal justice systems and the Department of Justice have a responsibility to maintain one standard of justice and civil rights that equally values the lives of people of color, and elected officials also have an obligation to end these systemic injustices. We demand that DA Donovan proficiently present evidence to a grand jury to consider charges against all officers responsible for Eric Garner’s death, just as we demand U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara to convene a grand jury in the killing of Ramarley Graham. Similarly, the de Blasio administration should demonstrate leadership that can be a national model by implementing zero tolerance for police brutality and ending discriminatory and abusive policing – like the disparate hyper-enforcement in broken windows policing – that unjustly targets communities of color and too often results in police brutality incidents.”
—Priscilla Gonzalez, Communities United for Police Reform

“The lack of accountability for officers who target communities of color, who stop-and-frisk us in record numbers, and who murder members of communities of color reaffirms everything that I believed about the 'American Justice System' in this country: it works -- if you don't look like me.  “New York City's response and Ferguson's response (or lack thereof) deeply saddens me. I am tired of having to march year after year as deadly police brutality takes the lives of more Black and Brown people. I am tired of leaving my apartment worried that it could very well be the last time that I see my mother. I am tired of living in fear of the very same people whose mission it is to protect and serve. My life matters. I will not be silent.”
—Keeshan Harley, youth member of Make the Road New York

“The NYCLU and our 50,000 members are proud to support Saturday’s march for justice. Our message is simple: New York City can and must be a place where the police protect both safety and individual rights. Only when the NYPD has become a police force that all New Yorkers trust and respect can we finally close the book on the tale of two cities.”
—New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman

"The Arab American community sees it as our moral obligation to demonstrate solidarity and demand justice for Eric Garner and all others who have lost their lives at the hands of the New York Police Department.  We are not anti-law enforcement, we are anti-law enforcement misconduct and we need to see real and transparent accountability. It is the only way to begin to rebuild trust." —Linda Sarsour, Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York

“It's impossible to discuss bettering police-community relations while the philosophy guiding the NYPD’s practices criminalizes entire communities, and while there is no accountability for officers who unjustly kill New Yorkers, such as Ramarley Graham and Eric Garner.  We are marching today to demand that the NYPD and the administration turn away from Broken Windows policing and enact a zero tolerance policy for police brutality.”
—Loyda Colon, Justice Committee Co-Director

“The New York City Anti-Violence (AVP) supports the We Will Not Go Back March.  We know firsthand that LGBTQ and HIV-affected New Yorkers are deeply impacted by police violence. In 2013, AVP received 68 reports of police misconduct, continuing a two-year trend. Additionally 20% of those who interacted with the police reported that the police used slurs or bias language. AVP stands with all communities who are disproportionately impacted by police violence here in New York City and we demand justice and accountability.”
—Shelby Chestnut, Co-Director of Community Organizing and Public Advocacy

"The deaths of New Yorkers of color at the hands of the NYPD will not stop until there is a paradigm shift in policing.  Broken windows policing damages the relationship between police and the community by forcing officers to spend their time harassing people for low-level "quality of life" violations rather than working with community members to ensure safety for all.”
—Mike Selick, NY Harm Reduction Educators (NYHRE)

"The murder of Eric Garner made me cry, and saddened me. But I think people of the world and NYC need to get mobilized and make sure that they protest until the NYPD takes us seriously. Make this cop go to trial, be prosecuted for this case. It is murder."
—Marie Clark, Picture the Homeless Member

"The time has come for President Obama to call for a national investigation of police brutality and produce a report that will allow everyone to see how significant this problem is. That way we can all see how much has or has not changed since 1967 when President Johnson was brave enough to do this same thing."
—Delores Jones-Brown, The Center on Race, Crime and Justice at John Jay

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About Communities United for Police Reform

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and policing practices based on cooperation and respect– not discriminatory targeting and harassment.

CPR brings together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those unfairly targeted the most by the NYPD. CPR is fighting for reforms that will promote community safety while ensuring that the NYPD protects and serves all New Yorkers.

Learn more: http://changethenypd.org/
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