Press Releases

For immediate release: April 27, 2017

CPR Criticizes Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner O’Neill for Advancing Inferior Body Camera Policy That Undermines Transparency

In response to the NYPD beginning the court-mandated body camera pilot program with an NYPD policy that disregarded public input and best transparency practices, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Shelby Chestnut.

“Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner O’Neill have disregarded the public’s demands for police accountability by advancing an inferior and regressive body camera policy that undermines transparency and accountability. There’s no excuse for New York City to have a second-rate policy that omits recording of critical policing encounters, protects abusive cops rather than the public, and obstructs New Yorkers' access to footage while allowing officers control and access – even when they are the subject of police brutality complaints.

For immediate release: April 25, 2017

Advocates Call for NYC Officials to Address Role of NYPD in Fueling Deportations & Incarceration

Mothers of New Yorkers killed by NYPD, community members urge end to policing policies & practices that feed New Yorkers into criminal justice and immigration enforcement systems

 

New Yorkers call for end to broken windows policing and passage of Right to Know Act to curb police abuses that target communities of color and immigrants
 

Elected officials and community leaders called for local actions to address abusive policing practices as proactive measures to fight against the Trump administration’s immigration and law enforcement agenda and advance consensus criminal justice reform goals. The group, including members of Communities United for Police Reform and the mothers of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD, specifically urged passage of the Right to Know Act by the New York City Council and an end to discriminatory “broken windows” policing.

For immediate release: April 20, 2017

Community Groups & New Yorkers Directly Impacted by Abusive Policing File Legal Opposition to NYPD’s Body Camera Policy

Groups urge court to intervene, halt body camera pilot program unless major changes are made to dangerous flaws in policy that impair transparency and accountability

Community members were joined by civil rights attorneys for plaintiffs in lawsuit that produced body camera pilot program, who also filed opposition to NYPD policy


Together with community groups representing New Yorkers directly impacted by abusive policing, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) announced the filing of legal opposition to the NYPD’s proposed body camera policy.

For immediate release: April 12, 2017

Ramarley Graham's Mother & Supporting Organizations Announce Lawsuit against NYPD

Group seeks court to force compliance with Freedom of Information Law in release of information on multiple officers’ misconduct, as some NYPD documents released indicate attempted cover-up in 2012

Family and supporters demand start of NYPD trials against Sergeant Scott Morris and Officer John McLoughlin, who were charged in 2012, and that they be fired, not allowed to resign like Richard Haste

For immediate release: April 7, 2017

CPR Responds to NYPD Body Camera Policy

In response to the NYPD releasing its final body camera policy for approval by the court, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) released the following statement by spokesperson Mandela Jones.

“The NYPD’s newly released body camera policy fails New Yorkers and police transparency – it won’t help address police brutality, abuses and unjust killings of New Yorkers. Body cameras are no solution or substitute for accountability, but they can enhance transparency – however critical flaws in the policy undermine efforts to hold police accountable for brutality, and instead provide mechanisms to protect abusive officers instead of the public.
For immediate release: March 30, 2017

CPR Responds to Court Decision on City’s Appeal of Lower Court Ruling That City Should Release Pantaleo’s CCRB Misconduct Summary

In response to a court ruling today in an appeal by the de Blasio administration to a previous lower court ruling that it should release the CCRB misconduct summary of NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who killed Eric Garner, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Loyda Colon, Co-Director of the Justice Committee.

“The failures and inconsistencies of this administration on police reform and protecting our communities from police brutality become worse and worse every day. If the de Blasio administration believes in police transparency, their actions need to start matching their rhetoric. The de Blasio administration turned its back on our communities and police transparency when it decided to change policy related to disciplinary trial outcomes and police misconduct records, and then appeal the first court’s ruling that it release a summary of substantiated misconduct complaints against Pantaleo.

For immediate release: March 29, 2017

CPR Statement re: Mayor de Blasio’s Announcement on Re-Entry Services for People Incarcerated

In response to Mayor de Blasio’s announcement today about increased support for re-entry programs in the city’s correctional facilities, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Mark Winston Griffith, Executive Director of Brooklyn Movement Center.

“It’s positive that the mayor is increasing support for re-entry services, but this administration needs to address the front-end, drastic racial disparities in policing that continue to criminalize communities of color. The mayor talks a lot about overall numbers but continues failing to address the racial inequalities of who remains impacted.

For immediate release: March 29, 2017

Statement from Ramarley Graham's Mother, Constance Malcolm, Re: Commissioner O’Neill Claiming He Plans to Meet with Her & Mayor de Blasio Stating That He Would Meet with Her

Constance Malcolm, the mother of Ramarley Graham, released the following statement in response to NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill telling news outlets he plans to meet with her and Mayor de Blasio claiming that he would meet with her, seemingly portraying her criticism as obscured by tragedy, and that NYPD training has solved the problem of police killings and brutality. 

“Through their actions, it seems that the Mayor and Commissioner are more concerned with how they look in the media, instead of directly dealing with the concerns I have as a mother whose son was killed by their NYPD over 5 years ago..."

For immediate release: March 26, 2017

Mother of Ramarley Graham Responds to Richard Haste Resigning from NYPD

In response to Richard Haste being allowed to resign, Ramarley Graham’s mother Constance Malcolm issued the following statement.

“My son Ramarley was gunned down and murdered by NYPD Officer Richard Haste over 5 years ago. Richard Haste should have been in prison but instead of even firing him, the de Blasio administration let him resign. This is just another example that the de Blasio administration doesn't care about justice and accountability. Every step of the way, the Mayor and NYPD have dragged their heels and have refused to hold officers accountable for murdering my son.

For immediate release: March 24, 2017

Reform Campaign Condemns de Blasio’s Unilateral Appointment of Civilian Monitor for Disregarding New Yorkers Targeted by NYPD’s Unwarranted Political and Religious Surveillance

In response to Mayor de Blasio unilaterally appointing a civilian representative to the Handschu Committee to prevent any further improper and unwarranted surveillance of political activities and Muslim communities by the NYPD, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Mark Winston Griffith, the executive director of the Brooklyn Movement Center.

“Mayor de Blasio has once again disregarded communities impacted by the NYPD’s abusive and discriminatory policing, prioritizing announcements above substance. When New Yorkers are the subject of unwarranted surveillance based on their political activities or religion, it doesn’t build trust to secretly appoint and announce an independent civilian monitor without input from the communities who forced the appointment of such an official by the courts in the first place.

Pages