Press Releases

For immediate release: December 12, 2017

Communities United for Police Reform Releases Statement on Right to Know Act Bills

In response to Right to Know Act bills being laid to age last night for an impending vote, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Monifa Bandele.

For immediate release: November 16, 2017

Communities United for Police Reform Statement on Right to Know Act

In response to Right to Know Act lead sponsors, Council Members Antonio Reynoso and Ritchie Torres, failing to take action on the legislation at today’s Stated Meeting and an anonymously sourced report about a deal being on the table, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Monifa Bandele.

“There is no deal on the Right to Know Act without non-emergency investigatory policing encounters being covered, including when police are doing investigatory questioning at Level 1 encounters. If a police officer can ask you for identification in non-emergency situations, there is no reason New Yorkers should be left without the identity of the officer and the reason for the encounter in such situations. Any purported bill that seeks to provide such a gaping loophole has no agreement from advocates and communities.

For immediate release: November 6, 2017

Family of Delrawn Small Responds to Not Guilty Verdict against NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs Who Killed Small

Family comments on failure of jury as injustice, racialized fear, racism in justice system and society; demands that Mayor de Blasio & NYPD Commissioner O’Neill fire Isaacs. 

In response to the jury finding NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs not guilty of murder for killing unarmed Delrawn Small on Atlantic Avenue on July 4, 2016, Delrawn Small’s brother and sister, Victor Dempsey and Victoria Davis, released the following statement.

“Nothing can bring Delrawn back or fill the void in our hearts and lives from our brother being taken from us by this senseless murder‎. We are devastated and outraged that the jury failed to ensure justice by not holding NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs accountable for murdering our brother. What Wayne Isaacs did that night – immediately shooting and killing our brother as he approached his car and leaving him to bleed out and die, when he had so many other options – was murder, in cold blood.

For immediate release: October 11, 2017

With Only 3 Months Left to Pass Bills, Hundreds of New Yorkers Descend on City Hall Demanding Action on Right to Know Act Police Reforms

Right to Know Act is supported by majority of council members, 200+ groups and Colin Kaepernick; policies received support from Obama policing taskforce and Council’s Young Women’s Initiative

For immediate release: September 26, 2017

Former Tennis Pro James Blake Responds to End of Disciplinary Trial for NYPD Officer

In response to the end of the disciplinary trial into Officer James Frascatore, who tackled and slammed James Blake to the ground before improperly placing him in handcuffs outside of his Manhattan hotel in 2015, James Blake released the following statement.

For immediate release: September 26, 2017

CPR Responds to End of Disciplinary Trial for NYPD Officer, where CCRB Only Sought to Take Away Vacation Days from Officer

In response to the end of the disciplinary trial into Officer James Frascatore, who tackled and slammed former tennis pro James Blake to the ground before improperly placing him in handcuffs outside of his Manhattan hotel in 2015 and the CCRB only seeking to take away vacation days as discipline, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Anthonine Pierre.

For immediate release: September 21, 2017

Joint Statement from The Legal Aid Society and CPR on City’s Volatile Interpretation of 50A

City Abruptly Invokes 50A at James Blake Trial, Kicks the public (including CPR members) out of Hearing Room

For immediate release: September 20, 2017

At NYPD Trial, Blake Recalls Being Attacked & Wrongfully Cuffed by NYPD, Reiterates Call to Fire Officer with Significant History of Civilian Complaints

Although hotel video footage clearly showed Officer James Frascatore using excessive force against retired tennis pro James Blake, the trial today featured a witness attempting to defend Frascatore’s brutal actions. Despite today’s testimony from the defense witness Daniel Modell, whose credibility was vigorously challenged in court, Blake remained steadfast that there is no justification for Frascatore’s actions.

For immediate release: September 19, 2017

Blake Police Brutality Trail Starts: NYPD Uses Excessive Force Against Former Tennis Star

After years of delays and multiple false starts, NYPD Officer James Frascatore, the cop responsible for the unprovoked and brutal attack of retired tennis star James Blake, will finally stand trial for NYPD discipline.

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