Press Releases

For immediate release: December 31, 2020

Statement: CPR Responds To Law Department Report On Factors Influencing The George Floyd Protests

Yesterday, the New York City Law Department released a report on the factors influencing the George Floyd protests earlier this year. Below is a statement on the report from Kesi Foster, spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform.
For immediate release: December 22, 2020

Win: Court Rejects de Blasio, NYPD Bid to Stymie Public Judicial Inquiry into Eric Garner Killing

New York, NY (December 22, 2020) – In October, the City of New York filed a notice of appeal of NY Supreme Court Justice Joan A. Madden’s September 24, 2020 decision to allow a public judicial inquiry into the killing of Eric Garner by NYPD officers to proceed. Lawyers for Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYPD then argued that Justice Madden could not, and should not, proceed with the public inquiry while their appeal was pending – effectively putting the case on ice.

For immediate release: December 18, 2020

STATEMENT: CPR Responds to Overdue Dept of Investigation Report into NYPD Conduct During Summer Protests

Today, the New York City Department of Investigation released a 100+ page report on the conduct of the NYPD during the protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd earlier this year. The report, which comes almost four months later than Mayor de Blasio originally promised, concludes that the NYPD mismanaged their response to the protests, used excessive force, prioritized “disorder control” rather than facilitating First Amendment rights of New Yorkers, and escalated situations and tensions between members of the public and the police. In response to the report, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) spokesperson Anthonine Pierre issued the following statement:
For immediate release: December 8, 2020

Mother of Kawaski Trawick Slams NYPD & de Blasio for NYPD-Produced Video of Police Killing

In response to NYPD video, Kawaski Trawick's mother demands transparency & officers be fired

New York, NY – Today, the NYPD released a NYPD-narrated and edited video of the April 2019 killing of Kawaski Trawick, a 32-year-old Bronx resident who was shot by police in his home.

For immediate release: November 24, 2020

Family of Antonio Williams, Killed by NYPD in 2019, Sue The City of New York and NYPD as New Footage from the Night of Williams’ Killing is Released

Williams’ family calls for justice surrounding Williams’ wrongful death.

NEW YORK, NY — Tuesday, Nov. 24, the family of Antonio Williams announced a lawsuit against the City of New York and NYPD. Announced in a virtual press conference today, the lawsuit aims to seek justice and redress for Williams’ unjust killing and wrongful death.

For immediate release: November 17, 2020

Kawaski Trawick’s Mother Responds to Bronx DA Report & Demands Immediate Firing of NYPD Officers Who Killed Trawick

Trawick Family & Advocates Demand Bronx DA Release All Relevant Investigatory Files and Call on Mayor de Blasio & NYPD to Fire Officers Brendan Thompson and Herbert Davis

Today, Kawaski Trawick’s mother – joined by other family members, their attorney Royce Russell and advoca

For immediate release: October 15, 2020

Delrawn Small’s Siblings Demand Overdue Firing of Cop who Killed their Brother

Yesterday, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) substantiated the excessive-force complaint against Officer Wayne Isaacs in the July 2016 killing of Brooklyn father Delrawn Small. In response, Communities United for Police Reform and the Justice Committee, along with the siblings of Small, Victoria Davis, and Victor Dempsey, are calling for the immediate firing of Isaacs.

For immediate release: October 5, 2020

Gwen Carr, Communities United for Police Reform Demand de Blasio Stop Obstructing Justice

New York, NY (October 5, 2020) – In response to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s legal maneuvering: beginning an appeals process late Friday, October 2nd, seeking to stop a public judicial inquiry into his potential violations and neglect of duty in the killing of Eric Garner, as well as negligence and violations of duty by former NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill and other top NYPD officials, Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, and Loyda Colon of Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statements:

For immediate release: September 30, 2020

Families of Loved Ones Killed by NYPD, Community Organizations, and CPR Denounce NYPD Discipline Matrix

In response to a September 30th deadline for public input to draft NYPD disciplinary guidelines released in August, families of New Yorkers killed by NYPD and close to 70 organizations joined Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) in a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Speaker Corey Johnson and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea collectively rejecting the guidelines as “illegitimate and dangerous.”

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