Police Reform Campaign Responds to Report of NYPD and MTA Police Conducting Surveillance on Activists, Protesters of Police Brutality

In response to a report from the Intercept on documents released by the MTA showing the NYPD and MTA police engaging in surveillance of activists, protesters of police brutality and journalists, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from Monifa Bandele.

“The report about NYPD and MTA police officers conducting surveillance on protesters opposed to police brutality demonstrates that the NYPD remains engaged in the same troubling surveillance it has conducted for decades on political activists. This dubious surveillance by the NYPD continues under the de Blasio administration despite its claims regarding reform, as the Intercept story further substantiates a previous April New York Times report regarding the questioning of protesters. Given the fact that Commissioner Bratton previously stated that a new NYPD unit would  dually handle protests and terrorism threats, New Yorkers should be very concerned about whose First Amendment rights are considered for taxpayer-funded NYPD surveillance. NYPD Inspector General Eure indicated his office would investigate and release a report on religious and political surveillance, and this demonstrates how critical it is for timely oversight on these policing activities that have an impact on political dissent and expression in New York City.”

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