Right To Know Act News

For immediate release:
May 16, 2016

Police Reform Campaign Responds to NYC Young Women’s Initiative Report

Highlights Support for Right to Know Act policies and other important reforms while applauding women’s leadership and heeding solutions of impacted communities
“We applaud Speaker Mark-Viverito for convening the Young Women’s Initiative and the leadership of its participants – including Girls for Gender Equity, New York Women’s Foundation and many others – for putting forth important recommendations for government improvements for girls, young women and our entire city. We are pleased to see that the YWI recommended the policies of the Right to Know Act, just as the White House’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing did. Given this widespread support from Washington to communities across our city and a majority of council members, there should be urgent action to pass the Right to Know Act without further delay.

Right to Know Act pushed by council members, protesters in front of City Hall

04/22/2016
amNewYork
Several hundred people gathered near City Hall on Thursday, including several City Council members, to push for a vote on two pieces of police reform legislation. The two bills, which together make up the Right to Know Act, call on police to identify themselves and give out business cards during stops, as well as seek consent to search people when there is no probably cause.

Constance Malcolm, mother of Ramarley Graham, discusses Right To Know Act on NY1 The Call

04/21/2016
NY1 - The Call
Hundreds of New Yorkers gathered outside City Hall today for a rally demanding change at the NYPD. A few City Council lawmakers joined the call to improve "accountability and transparency" under Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bratton's leadership. Protesters want the Council to pass the "Right to Know Act" to further "protect New Yorkers against unconstitutional searches."

Protestors rally outside City Hall demanding passage of new police reform bills

04/21/2016
New York Daily News

More than 200 people — including a fleet of politicians — rallied outside City Hall Thursday to demand that lawmakers pass new police reform bills.

The demonstrators called on the City Council to take action on a pair of measures known as the “Right to Know Act.”

The bills would require cops to formally identify themselves during stops — as well as get proof of consent when searching individuals without probable cause.

Advocates Renew Push to Pass Police Reform Bills Stalled in City Council

04/21/2016
Observer

Advocates and Council members rallied outside City Hall today to call for the passage of a pair of police reform bills that have languished for two years, despite support from more than half the body’s members.

The bills, known collectively as the Right to Know Act, would require police officers to identify themselves to people they stop and to inform people that they have a right to refuse a search if the officer does not have probable cause. The identification bill has 32 sponsors; the consent to search legislation has 28—enough to pass the 51-member body.

Hundreds Call on City Council to Pass Long Delayed Police Reform Bills

04/21/2016
DNAinfo
Hundreds gathered outside of City Hall Thursday, rallying in support of long-delayed police reform bills that would require officers to get consent before searching someone without a warrant. The Right to Know Act — City Council legislation composed of two bills — would require the NYPD to identify themselves and explain why they are stopping or questioning an individual. Police would also have to explain that people can deny consent to a search in certain instances — and get written or audio proof of consent to a non-warrant search.

Several Groups Rally Outside City Hall for Reforms to Police

04/21/2016
NY1
Several groups rallied outside of City Hall on Thursday and called for reforms to the police, including for the City Council to pass an act that would require officers to identify and explain themselves when they stop people.

Hundreds Rally for the Right to Refuse Stop and Frisk

Hundreds Rally for the Right to Refuse Stop and Frisk
04/21/2016
Bedford + Bowery

In 2013 Mayor Bill De Blasio was voted into office with pledges to reign in police violence and stop-and-frisk policing targeted at blacks and latinos.

NYC law-and-order reforms face different prospects before council

03/28/2016
Newsday

Two proposed City Council initiatives aimed at changing law-and-order practices that critics say unfairly target minorities and the indigent have taken different paths, with one gaining steam as the other stalls.

The difference is a matter of politics and practicality, experts and stakeholders said.

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