Press Releases

For immediate release: March 27, 2018

Newly Released NYPD Files from Killing of Ramarley Graham Ordered Released by Judge Reveal Fabricated Account That Sought to Justify Killing

Documents show officers lied in immediate aftermath during investigation, yet department apparently never held anyone accountable for lies that even NYPD brass repeated publicly

Records are first in trove of files that judge ordered city to release following lawsuit against NYPD for refusing to comply with FOIL request by Graham’s family, supporting organizations

For immediate release: March 8, 2018

Advocates, Electeds, Legal Groups & New Yorkers Directly Harmed Demand de Blasio & O’Neill Take Action to Fix Broken NYPD Disciplinary System


Following investigation revealing hundreds of NYPD officers guilty of serious misconduct being spared meaningful discipline, police reform campaign calls for firings and concrete reforms to help fix failed police accountability that allows abusive officers to continue in department, undermining trust and safety.

For immediate release: February 15, 2018

New York Police Reform Campaign Responds to Not Guilty Verdict in Case of Deborah Danner’s Killing by NYPD Officer

In response to a not guilty verdict against the officer who shot and killed Deborah Danner, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokespeople Monifa Bandele (Vice President & Chief Partnership and Equity Officer at MomsRising.org) and Rama Issa-Ibrahim (Executive Director of Arab American Association of New York).

For immediate release: February 8, 2018

Police Reform Campaign Responds to City Council Hearing on NYPD Policing of Protests

In response to a City Council hearing on the NYPD’s policing of protests, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from Director Joo-Hyun Kang.

For immediate release: January 30, 2018

Police Reform Campaign Responds to NYPD Body Camera Announcement

In response to Mayor de Blasio and the NYPD announcing a sped-up expansion of the use of body-worn cameras to all officers, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Mark Winston Griffith, executive director of Brooklyn Movement Center.

For immediate release: January 18, 2018

Eric Garner’s Mother & Other Advocates Demand Mayor de Blasio Stop NYPD from Blocking CCRB Prosecution of Pantaleo

Group calls for de Blasio administration to end 3+ years of delays to accountability and fire multiple officers involved in killing

 

Advocates dispute administration’s claim that it cannot act until Justice Department decision, labeling it political decision contradicted by recent cases around nation and history in NYC

The mother of Eric Garner, Gwen Carr, and civil rights and police reform advocates called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to end the over three years of obstruction and delays to accountability for the multiple NYPD officers involved in killing Garner and the associated misconduct. Specifically, the group revealed that the NYPD is blocking the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) from prosecuting Officer Daniel Pantaleo and urged the mayor to end this impediment.

For immediate release: January 15, 2018

On MLK Day, Civil Rights, Police Reform & Community Organizations Call on City Council to Hold Oversight Hearing on NYPD’s Overly Aggressive Protest Policing

Demand follows rough policing of immigration-related protest on Thursday and other prior incidents of abusive police treatment of protesters

Groups seek oversight of Strategic Response Group’s role in abusive and repressive protest policing and conflation of “anti-terror” and protest

For immediate release: December 27, 2017

Mother of Ramarley Graham Responds to NY Supreme Court Judge’s Ruling against City & NYPD for Withholding Records in Killing of Unarmed Teenager & Misusing State Law 50-a

In response to a preliminary ruling by Supreme Court Justice Manuel Mendez in a lawsuit brought by the family of Ramarley Graham, Communities United for Police Reform, and the Justice Committee against the NYPD for refusing to comply with a FOIL request for information related to Graham’s killing, his mother Constance Malcolm released the following statement.

For immediate release: December 21, 2017

Mother of Ramarley Graham, Family’s Attorney & the Justice Committee Respond to NYPD Plea Agreements with Officers Involved in Killing Graham

In response to a report and other information confirming that two of the officers involved in the killing of Ramarley Graham (Sergeant Scott Morris and Officer John McLoughlin) reached plea agreements with the NYPD on departmental charges, the mother of Graham - Constance Malcolm – issued the following statement.

For immediate release: December 18, 2017

Communities United for Police Reform Responds to NYC Council Committee Vote on Police Reform Bill (Intro 541-C) & Bill That Undermines Police Accountability (Intro 182-D)

“While we are happy that Council Member Reynoso’s Intro 541-C passed, it’s disappointing that the Council’s Public Safety Committee decided to ignore the voices of New Yorkers directly impacted by police abuses, family members of New Yorkers killed by police over past decades, law enforcement associations of color, and over 200 civil rights, community, and legal organizations who oppose Intro 182-D. This version of the bill eliminates the most essential protections for New Yorkers in the majority of policing interactions, and has been advanced with only the support of those who obstructed it for the past four years. It isn’t sweeping, it isn’t reform and it isn’t progress – it’s a step backwards for New York City that will undermine police accountability.

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