NYPD often targets other groups as well such as activists and
journalists. New York has one of the worst records on personal freedom in the
United States coming in at forty-eight in many areas, last place in others,
according to "Freedom in the fifty States,
a report by the Mercatus Center of George Mason University.
"Stop and Frisk undermines the safety of our communities and
creates a rift between law enforcement and residents, too many people have been
victimized by NYPD policies," said Appelbaum.
"Every New Yorkers wants to be safe in their neighborhood
but when young people of color don't have the freedom to walk the streets
without harassment, that's not safety," Marie Pierre, Chair of NYCC Board.
We are not anti-police, we are pro-communities, we need to work with police in our communities, but who profits of so called reasonable suspicion in these stops, not the community," NYC City Council member Jumaane Williams. "Whose side are the police on?"
New York City Councilpersons Stand with their communities by Cory V. Clark
Five New York City Council members signed a public promise
to push through the Communities Safety Act, vowing to fight for the rights and
safety of their constituents, by reforming police policies and developing a
system of oversight.
As part of the bill to ensure proper police conduct, officers would be required to identify themselves by name, badge number, and by presenting the individuals stop with their card and information on how to file a complaint. In addition police will be required to explain to the individual stopped exactly why they are being stopped, what made them suspicious and what law the officer believe they were violating.
Dance for that community by Cory V. Clark
The act also establishes a separate Inspector General as an independent
investigative body for police complaints.
Councilperson Williams is the primary sponsor of this bill.
"I am proud to be the prime sponsor of this piece of legislation and even prouder to join my colleagues today in calling for greater NYPD accountability, Said Williams.
High School hip-Hop goes old school by Cory V. Clark
By the end of the rally the crowd had swelled beyond the
designated area, due to passersby. The chanting had had swelled to ear splitting
levels before a final series of speeches from various community figures and a
concert a high school hip-hop group before the crowd dispersed without incident.
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