Press Releases

For immediate release: December 24, 2018

Over a Hundred Families and Organizations Join Police Reform Advocates in Urging State Legislators to Fully Repeal Police Secrecy Law 50-a

Over 100 organizations and family members of New Yorkers killed by police joined Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) to urge New York State legislators to advance a full repeal of NYS 50-a. The law shields the records of law enforcement officers accused of misconduct from public view.

For immediate release: December 14, 2018

Families of Eric Garner and Delrawn Small Slam Mayor de Blasio’s Press Secretary for Racist Comments About “Fringe Activists” Criticizing the NYPD, and Demand Immediate Apology Today

Today, the families of Eric Garner and Delrawn Small slammed Mayor de Blasio’s press secretary Eric Phillips for his racist comments that critics of the NYPD are "fringe activists." Phillips first made the comments to Politico New York earlier today and, since then, he doubled down on them on Twitter.

For immediate release: December 14, 2018

It's Time for an Independent Investigation: Outrage Over NYPD's Failure to Hold Officers Accountable for Brutally Attacking and Arresting Jazmine Headley

New York, NY – Tonight, police accountability advocates responded angrily to the news that the NYPD found no wrongdoing or misconduct on the part of officers who brutally attacked and arrested Jazmine Headley. Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) released the following statement calling for an independent investigation.

For immediate release: December 5, 2018

Quam Ahmodu Should Still Be Alive Today: Family of Brooklyn Man Who Died in NYPD Custody Speaks Out, and Demands Justice for their Son

Young Nigerian Man in Flatlands, Brooklyn Screamed “I Can’t Breathe” Repeatedly, and Asked for Oxygen as NYPD Officers and EMT Let Him Die

Brooklyn, New York – Quam Ahmodu, a 24 year-old Nigerian immigrant, died in police custody in his family’s home in Flatlands, Brooklyn on October 23.  

His father Wasiu Ahmodu is speaking out today after seeing the NYPD spread false reports in the media about Quam’s death. 

For immediate release: December 4, 2018

Justice for Eric Garner: At City Hall, Gwen Carr, Police Reform Advocates, and Elected Officials Call for the Firing of All NYPD Officers Involved in Garner’s Death

New York, NY – Today, at City Hall, Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, joined police reform advocates and elected officials to call for the firing of all NYPD officers involved in the killing of Garner in 2014. They gathered for a press conference to mark the fourth anniversary of no indictment for NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in Garner’s death.

For immediate release: November 20, 2018

Gwen Carr, Mother of Eric Garner, Responds to News that NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo Will Face Disciplinary Hearing

New York, NY – Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, released the following statement today responding to news reports that NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo will face a disciplinary hearing in December for his use of a banned chokehold that killed her son in July 2014. The hearing may result in an NYPD disciplinary trial being scheduled for a later date. 

For immediate release: November 7, 2018

Gwen Carr, Mother of Eric Garner, Responds to the CCRB Filing for the Unsealing of Grand Jury Minutes as Part of Their Disciplinary Case Against NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo

New York, NY – Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, released the following statement tonight responding to news reports that the CCRB filed for the unsealing of grand jury minutes as part of their disciplinary case against NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo:

For immediate release: October 18, 2018

CPR and NYC Council Members Call on NYPD to Comply with Right to Know Act

New York, NY — Today, members of Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) and New York City Council Members gathered at City Hall to discuss the implementation of the Right to Know Act – a package of two police reform laws passed in December 2017 that go into effect tomorrow, October 19.

Speakers included New York City Council Members Antonio Reynoso, Jumaane Williams, Brad Lander, and Carlos Menchaca, along with police reform advocates and Iris Baez, the mother of Anthony Baez, who was killed by the NYPD in 1994. 

Archived video of the full press conference is available here.

For immediate release: October 15, 2018

Communities United for Police Reform Slams the NYPD and Mayor de Blasio for Failing to Hold the Proud Boys Accountable for Mob Attack in New York City

Communities United forPolice Reform (CPR), a leading voice for police reform in New York City, released the following statement today slamming the NYPD and Mayor de Blasio for failing to hold the Proud Boys accountable for their widely condemned mob attack in New York City over the weekend:

“Let’s be very clear about what happened: white supremacists were given special treatment by the NYPD, and Mayor de Blasio did nothing to stop it.  On Saturday, NYPD officers were on the scene during the Proud Boys’ bigoted attack. The NYPD officers let these heinous white supremacists walk away after they brutally beat anti-racist protesters. Instead of arresting Gavin McInnes and the Proud Boys on the spot, the NYPD arrested several anti-racist protesters. This is outrageous and wrong.

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