Press Releases

For immediate release:
July 13, 2016

On 2-Year Mark of Eric Garner’s Killing, Speaker Mark-Viverito’s NYPD Side-Deal Criticized As Charade

Moms of Garner & Ramarley Graham’s, advocates and council members committed to real reform announce continued push for Right to Know Act passage into law, ignoring Speaker-NYPD agreement

Community members convey risk in delaying police accountability reforms, highlight NYC as dangerous model of political obstruction that allows police abuses, brutality and killings to continue nationally

For immediate release:
July 12, 2016

Communities United for Police Reform, Mother of Eric Garner Criticize Effort to Avoid Vote on Right to Know Act Police Reform Legislation

In response to a report that NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced that the Right to Know Act legislation would not be considered for passage by the Council and instead allow the NYPD to handle it internally, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Anthonine Pierre, lead community organizer at Brooklyn Movement Center.

For immediate release:
July 6, 2016

New Yorkers Support Federal Lawsuit Calling for Court to Make Clear Statement Upholding New Yorkers’ Rights to Record Public Police Activity without Interference, Retaliation

Coalition demands NYPD end pervasive practice of interfering with and retaliating against New Yorkers exercising First Amendment right

Communities United for Police Reform expressed strong support for its member and Cop Watcher Ruben An, who the Legal Aid Society and Proskauer Rose LLP filed a federal lawsuit against the city on behalf of today to reaffirm his First Amendment right to observe and record police activity and be free from police retaliation for exercising it.

For immediate release:
June 29, 2016

CPR Calls for Changes to NYPD Body Camera Policy to Ensure Transparency, Independent Third-Party Storage of Footage

As NYPD releases draft body camera policy with survey to start public comment, community coalition demands extension of public comment period, more language accessibility and formal role for impacted communities in evaluation of body camera program implementation

In response to the NYPD’s release of its proposed policy on body cameras ordered as a result of the Floyd v. City of New York case and a public comment period/survey, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Loyda Colon, co-director of the Justice Committee.

For immediate release:
June 22, 2016

CPR Responds to NYPD IG Report on Broken Windows Policing

In response to a report by the NYPD inspector general that found NYPD enforcement of low-level infractions and offenses to have no “empirical evidence demonstrating a clear and direct link” to reduced crime but is enforced disparately across the city, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Monifa Bandele.

For immediate release:
June 15, 2016

Advocates Applaud Assembly Passage of Critical Criminal Justice Reform to Modernize Police Data Reporting; Urge Senate to Follow Suit

Advocates, elected leaders, and New Yorkers from Brooklyn to Buffalo strongly applaud the NYS Assembly for passing the Police Statistics and Transparency (STAT) Act (A.7698-A/Lentol; same as S.6001-A/Squadron) late Wednesday.

In response to the New York State Assembly’s passage of the Police STAT Act (A.7698-A/Lentol; same as S.6001-A/Squadron) late Wednesday, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Jose Lopez.

For immediate release:
May 27, 2016

Reform Campaign Slams NYPD Commissioner Bratton for Baseless Claims, Deflecting Blame and Corruption

In response to Commissioner Bratton’s claim that civilians documenting the police are an “epidemic” that escalates police violence against civilians while he fails to hold officers involved in misconduct and brutality accountable, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Monifa Bandele.

“Either Bill Bratton is desperate for national attention or is seeking to deflect from corruption investigations and his impotence in addressing systemic failed police accountability, but it could be all of the above. His claim of an ‘epidemic’ that legal observation of the police fuels police violence against civilians is akin to blaming the witness of a violent crime for the actions of the attacker – it’s ludicrous.

For immediate release:
May 25, 2016

CPR Responds to City Council Summons Reform

In response to the City Council’s expected passage of the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Monifa Bandele.

“The CJRA has potential to advance needed criminal justice reform, but it is not police reform and does not disrupt discriminatory broken windows policing that propels racial disparities in policies and outcomes. Whether its impact is beneficial to New Yorkers in the long-run lies in the details, since the NYPD retains ultimate control over most of its implementation and the direction given to officers.

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.
For immediate release:
April 21, 2016

Hundreds of New Yorkers Rally at City Hall to Demand Police Reforms with Support to Pass in City Council

Families & New Yorkers impacted by police abuse/brutality, artists and electeds call for City Council passage of Right to Know Act

Broad support for reforms from over 100 groups announced, highlights that communities don’t view de Blasio/Bratton “community policing” & training as addressing needed police accountability/transparency

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