CPR Responds to CCRB Substantiating James Blake’s Complaint of Excessive Force

In response to reports that the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board substantiated James Blake’s complaint that a NYPD officer used excessive force, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Mark Winston-Griffith, executive director of Brooklyn Movement Center.

“This quick turnaround by the CCRB appears to be nearly unprecedented, and now the true mechanism of accountability awaits in how the NYPD disciplines Officer Frascatore. Everyday New Yorkers find themselves suffering the same abusive and violent experiences at the hands of the NYPD as James Blake, but their reality is not one where the mayor and police commissioner apologize and pledge to take swift action, and the CCRB acts in this timely of a manner. New Yorkers who aren’t famous should be afforded this same level of respect and punctuality by their government, but that just simply is not the case. All New Yorkers deserve accountability for abusive and discriminatory policing, and this disparate treatment speaks volumes about the experiences of New Yorkers who lack the privilege to have the cameras so strongly focused on their incidents of police abuse.”

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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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