About this tip sheet - This was created quickly after NYPD mass-pepper sprayed protesters at a George Floyd protest the evening of Friday May 29, 2020. It’s compiled from a number of sources. This is NOT a comprehensive document – we are offering this tip sheet because many New Yorkers may not have experience dealing with NYPD pepper-spraying and using teargas on protesters.

In a letter to Governor Cuomo on January 6, 2020, sixty-four civil rights, good government and community organizations from across the state of New York called for a full, statewide repeal of New York’s Section 50-a, a counterproductive provision in state law that protects police secrecy, including in cases of misconduct and abuse.  A full repeal of 50-a will increase the transparency of police misconduct and allow communities timely access to important misconduct and discipline records across the state. Repeal of 50-a is a key priority of the