Right to Know Act

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The Right To Know Act is a legislative package that aims to protect the civil and human rights of New Yorkers while promoting communication, transparency and accountability in everyday interactions between the NYPD and the public.  New Yorkers want to live in a safe city where the police treat all residents with dignity and respect, and where police are not considered to be above the law.

Our right to know

05/19/2016
New York Amsterdam News

It is ironic that many New Yorkers are not aware of the Right to Know Act, the legislative package that aims to protect them while promoting communication, transparency and accountability between them and the New York Police Department.

Thanks to the Communities United for Police Reform, the Right to Know Act is becoming better known. Even so, there is much more our citizens need to know if they want to be treated with dignity and respect when interacting with the police.

For immediate release: May 16, 2016

Police Reform Campaign Responds to NYC Young Women’s Initiative Report

Highlights Support for Right to Know Act policies and other important reforms while applauding women’s leadership and heeding solutions of impacted communities
“We applaud Speaker Mark-Viverito for convening the Young Women’s Initiative and the leadership of its participants – including Girls for Gender Equity, New York Women’s Foundation and many others – for putting forth important recommendations for government improvements for girls, young women and our entire city. We are pleased to see that the YWI recommended the policies of the Right to Know Act, just as the White House’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing did. Given this widespread support from Washington to communities across our city and a majority of council members, there should be urgent action to pass the Right to Know Act without further delay.

Right to Know Act pushed by council members, protesters in front of City Hall

04/22/2016
amNewYork
Several hundred people gathered near City Hall on Thursday, including several City Council members, to push for a vote on two pieces of police reform legislation. The two bills, which together make up the Right to Know Act, call on police to identify themselves and give out business cards during stops, as well as seek consent to search people when there is no probably cause.

Constance Malcolm, mother of Ramarley Graham, discusses Right To Know Act on NY1 The Call

04/21/2016
NY1 - The Call
Hundreds of New Yorkers gathered outside City Hall today for a rally demanding change at the NYPD. A few City Council lawmakers joined the call to improve "accountability and transparency" under Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bratton's leadership. Protesters want the Council to pass the "Right to Know Act" to further "protect New Yorkers against unconstitutional searches."

Protestors rally outside City Hall demanding passage of new police reform bills

04/21/2016
New York Daily News

More than 200 people — including a fleet of politicians — rallied outside City Hall Thursday to demand that lawmakers pass new police reform bills.

The demonstrators called on the City Council to take action on a pair of measures known as the “Right to Know Act.”

The bills would require cops to formally identify themselves during stops — as well as get proof of consent when searching individuals without probable cause.

Advocates Renew Push to Pass Police Reform Bills Stalled in City Council

04/21/2016
Observer

Advocates and Council members rallied outside City Hall today to call for the passage of a pair of police reform bills that have languished for two years, despite support from more than half the body’s members.

The bills, known collectively as the Right to Know Act, would require police officers to identify themselves to people they stop and to inform people that they have a right to refuse a search if the officer does not have probable cause. The identification bill has 32 sponsors; the consent to search legislation has 28—enough to pass the 51-member body.

Hundreds Call on City Council to Pass Long Delayed Police Reform Bills

04/21/2016
DNAinfo
Hundreds gathered outside of City Hall Thursday, rallying in support of long-delayed police reform bills that would require officers to get consent before searching someone without a warrant. The Right to Know Act — City Council legislation composed of two bills — would require the NYPD to identify themselves and explain why they are stopping or questioning an individual. Police would also have to explain that people can deny consent to a search in certain instances — and get written or audio proof of consent to a non-warrant search.
For immediate release: April 21, 2016

Hundreds of New Yorkers Rally at City Hall to Demand Police Reforms with Support to Pass in City Council

Families & New Yorkers impacted by police abuse/brutality, artists and electeds call for City Council passage of Right to Know Act

Broad support for reforms from over 100 groups announced, highlights that communities don’t view de Blasio/Bratton “community policing” & training as addressing needed police accountability/transparency

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