Right To Know Act News

He’s About To Be The First Openly Gay Black Member Of Congress — And He’s Talking About Mental Health Like Few Politicians Ever Have

Ritchie Torres is grappling with how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting his likely New York district’s mental health and opening up about his own.
10/27/2020
BuzzFeed News

WASHINGTON — At 32, Ritchie Torres has already been a star in New York City politics for years.

At 25, he became the youngest member of the City Council. Soon, he’ll likely become one of the youngest members of the House, and, along with fellow New York Democratic congressional nominee Mondaire Jones, the first openly gay Black member of Congress.

Advocates, Pols Demand Cops Follow Right to Know Act

Law requires NYPD officers to ID themselves and explain right to refuse a search
04/30/2019
Gay City News

Advocates and elected officials who say police officers are disobeying and at times even mocking a police accountability measure implemented last year rallied at City Hall April 29 to demand action minutes before lawmakers grilled NYPD officials about that law during an oversight hearing.

For immediate release: April 29, 2019

At City Hall, Police Accountability Advocates and NYC Council Members Condemn NYPD for Violating Key Provisions of the Right to Know Act

New York – Today, members of Communities United for Police Reform, police reform advocates, and New York City Council Members held a press conference at City Hall to condemn the NYPD for violating and undermining key provisions of the Right to Know Act, a package

Knowing Our Rights, Keeping Each Other Safe

11/21/2018
The West Indian

On October 19th, the Right to Know Act (RTKA) was implemented as New York City law. This is a huge win for New Yorkers, especially the most impacted community members – those who are working class, undocumented, and face regular police abuse.

The Right to Know is Law – Will the NYPD Abide by It?

11/13/2018
Gotham Gazette

New York City recently took an important step toward police reform. The long-anticipated Right To Know Act has officially gone into effect, with important provisions dictating police-civilian encounters. The Act includes critical laws that will help end unconstitutional searches and require that police officers both identify themselves and provide the reason for an encounter – even leaving a business card in certain interactions.

Right To Know Act Takes Effect: What NYers Should Expect

Two landmark police-reform bills aiming to protect New Yorkers in their interactions with cops officially take effect Friday.
10/19/2018
Patch

NEW YORK — New York City cops have to give business cards to people they stop and ask for permission to perform certain searches starting Friday as two landmark police-reform laws take effect. The City Council passed the contentious pair of bills, known as the Right to Know Act, last December in an effort to protect New Yorkers' rights and improve police accountability.

Right to Know Is Now the Law. Here’s What That Means.

Police officers in New York City must provide more information to members of the public they interact with, and get consent for many searches.
The Right to Know Act was passed in 2017 in response to the uproar over the Police Department's use of stop-and-frisk.CreditCreditTodd Heisler/The New York Times
10/19/2018
New York Times

The New York Police Department ordered 10 million business cards that officers must hand out to people they stop on the street. The cards will include the officers’ names and ranks, and are required under the new Right to Know Act.

Police reform advocates pledge to be vigilant as Right to Know Act takes effect

NYPD officers in certain encounters must identify themselves and inform the public they can deny a search when there isn't probable cause.
Police reform advocates and City Council members rallied at City Hall to call on the NYPD to comply with the Right to Know Act, which will go into effect on Friday. Photo Credit: Kayla Simas/Kayla Simas
10/18/2018
AM New York

Public officials and police reform advocates pledged to hold the NYPD accountable for their encounters with the public as new legislation goes into effect Friday.

Holding signs and banners reading "I do not consent to this search," activists rallied on the steps of City Hall to celebrate the implementation of the Right to Know Act. The legislation has two components: a requirement for officers (in certain instances) to identify themselves when approaching the public, and a mandate to inform a person of their right to refuse to consent to a search when the officer doesn't have probable cause. 

For immediate release: October 18, 2018

CPR and NYC Council Members Call on NYPD to Comply with Right to Know Act

New York, NY — Today, members of Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) and New York City Council Members gathered at City Hall to discuss the implementation of the Right to Know Act – a package of two police reform laws passed in December 2017 that go into effect tomorrow, October 19.

Speakers included New York City Council Members Antonio Reynoso, Jumaane Williams, Brad Lander, and Carlos Menchaca, along with police reform advocates and Iris Baez, the mother of Anthony Baez, who was killed by the NYPD in 1994. 

Archived video of the full press conference is available here.

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