Family of Ramarley Graham, Civil Rights Leaders & Elected Officials Call on Preet Bharara & DOJ to Act against Public Corruption in Police Killing

Over a year after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said it was undertaking a full investigation and more than two years since it first began reviewing the fatal police shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Ramarley Graham, his mother and father – Constance Malcolm and Franclot Graham – were joined by supporters to demand action and answers from U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. They called for Bharara and DOJ to give the case equal priority to those the office has pursued against public corruption, and to prosecute NYPD officer Richard Haste – who shot and killed Graham – and all the officers involved in the incident and aftermath on the scene.

“We are approaching the four-year mark of the day that our son was unjustly killed by NYPD officer Richard Haste and yet there has been no justice – not from the city or the Bronx DA,” said Constance Malcolm and Franclot Graham, the parents of Ramarley. “Officer Haste is still on the NYPD receiving a salary from taxpayer money, and he has even received raises over those four years since he killed our son. This was a clear cut violation of the law and our civil rights – our son and family’s civil rights were violated when officers broke into our home without a warrant or cause and executed our son. The outstanding question is whether Preet Bharara will uphold justice and stand against this public corruption with the same vigor as he has against political corruption. The people of New York weren’t delayed justice in the cases of Shelly Silver and Dean Skelos, so they shouldn’t be for Ramarley Graham. Preet Bharara and the Justice Department are making a statement about whether Black lives matter to them, and have the chance to answer the question correctly. It’s beyond time they indict and prosecute officer Richard Haste and the rest of the officers who violated the law and civil rights when they killed our son.”

Loyda Colon, Co-Director of the Justice Committee stated: “Preet Bharara has shown that he can be tough on corruption in Albany. Why has he not shown the same diligence when it comes to the NYPD unjustly taking the lives of New Yorkers of color? This sends the wrong message – that the federal government does not value Black lives. It's far past time for the DOJ to stop dragging its feet and fully prosecute all officers responsible for Ramarley Graham's death.”

The unarmed 18-year-old Ramarley Graham was killed by NYPD Officer Richard Haste in front of his grandmother and 6-year-old brother after the officer unlawfully busted into their home without a warrant or cause on February 2, 2012. A Bronx grand jury indicted Haste on two counts of manslaughter, but Judge Steven Barrett dismissed the indictment due to a prosecutorial error made by the Office of Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson. On August 8, 2013, a second grand jury decided not to re-indict Haste, but the U.S. Justice Department indicated it was reviewing the case.

Tired of inaction and silence by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on the case, Constance Malcolm, Franclot Graham and New Yorkers from across the city delivered over 33,000 petitions – signed by members of ColorOfChange, the nation’s largest civil rights online advocacy organization – to the Justice Department, demanding a full investigation in August 2014. After meeting with the family, the office of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara confirmed it was conducting a full investigation.

“Ramarley Graham was part of our union family, so this issue is very personal for us,” said George Gresham, President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare union in the nation. “His mother Constance is a dedicated healthcare worker and member of 1199SEIU, and we cannot imagine the pain and heartache she has gone through as she has sought justice for her 18 year old son in vain. There is a double-standard for justice in America right now, where unarmed people of color are killed over and over again with impunity. It seems like every other week there is another killing, and now they are often caught on video for the world to witness, yet no one is prosecuted. We join Ramarley’s family, faith leaders and community organizations in calling on the Department of Justice to convene a grand jury in this case and move forward with prosecution. We demand fair and equal treatment under the law for Ramarley and all people of color, so we can stop these senseless killings and achieve justice.”

Julien A. Terrell, Lead Organizer at The Brotherhood/Sister Sol stated: “For 4 years, young people of color throughout New York City have seen no significant movement on the case of Ramarley Graham by the Department of Justice. They’ve seen his mother and father’s demands for justice go unheard while Richard Haste continues to serve as part of the NYPD. It is imperative that a clear message that our young people are not targets and that 2016 will be a year of justice and accountability.” 

Alyssa Aguilera, Political Director of VOCAL-NY stated: “It has been nearly four years since Ramarley Graham was killed by NYPD Officer Richard Haste and there still has been no justice. The Department of Justice must stop 'investigating' and start taking action to ensure that Ramarley's family gets the due process and justice they deserve. We will not sit idly as the police kill civilians without any accountability or consequence.”

The demands of Bharara and DOJ come as police departments across the country face increasing scrutiny for the killings of unarmed civilians, and prosecutors are the subject of criticism for failing to equally uphold the law against police officers in such killings.

“It’s been almost four years since Ramarley Graham was killed and we continue to wait for the investigations to conclude,” said NYC Council Member Andy King, Co-Chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus. “This is unacceptable. The longer we wait the less chance of justice. It is in the best interest for all concerned for this case to move forward as expeditiously as possible. I’m urging U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara to move forward in convening a federal grand jury to prosecute the officers responsible for killing Ramarley Graham.”

“Four years after NYPD officers burst into their home without a warrant, and killed a teenager who posed no threat to them in front of his grandmother and little brother, there is still no justice for Ramarley Graham,” said Council Member Brad Lander, Deputy Leader for Policy of the NYC Council. “If Preet Bharara and the Justice Department believe that Black Lives Matter, they must move forward immediately to convene a grand jury and hold these officers accountable.”

In April 2014, the chairs and members of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus and the New York City Council Black, Latino & Asian Caucus, sent letters to Attorney General Eric Holder requesting an official investigation by the Department of Justice into the death of Ramarley Graham.

Constance Malcolm was one of several family members of New Yorkers killed by police, who led advocacy efforts that moved Governor Cuomo to issue an executive order to authorize a special prosecutor for police killings of civilians. The executive order is not retroactive, and the families’ efforts were intended to advance justice for New Yorkers who may face similarly tragic circumstances in the future.

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