Press Releases

Family, Advocates & Elected Officials Express Outrage at Decision Not to Fire Officers Who Killed Kawaski Trawick in His Own Home

Demand Answers Regarding Reports of Retirement of One Cop before Discipline Decision & reforms to prevent future cover-ups and delays in discipline of NYPD who kill

Today, Justice Committee, Communities United

Family of Kawaski Trawick Outraged by Decision Not to Fire Officers Who Killed Him

In response to Commissioner Cabán’s decision not to fire the NYPD Officers who killed Kawaski Trawick, a Black gay man in his own home, Mrs. Ellen and Mr. Rickie Trawick, parents of Kawaski Trawick, Loyda Colon, Executive Director of Justice Committee and CPR spokesperson and others issued the following statements.

Marking Five Years Since Kawaski Trawick Was Killed by Police:

Elected Officials and Racial Justice Groups Rally to Demand An End to Delays 

& the Firing of Officers Who Killed Him

 

Today–nearly five years to the day that Kawaski Trawick, a Black gay man killed by the NYPD in his own home – Kawaski’s family, racial justice organizations, and elected officials rallied on the steps of City Hall to demand Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Cabán end their delays and finally fire NYPD Officers Brendan Thompson and Herbert Davis for killing Mr. Trawick on the night of April 14, 2019. 

Communities United for Police Reform Responds to City Council’s FY25 Budget Announcement

In response to the City Council’s preliminary budget announcement, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from CPR spokesperson Donavon Taveras, Lead Organizer with El Puente.

Mayor’s SCOUT Teams Slammed by Communities United for Police Reform

In response to Mayor Adams announcement that he will be expanding the Street Conditions Observation Unit Team (SCOUT), Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from CPR spokesperson Hassen Bashir from VOCAL-NY.

Mayor’s Reckless Budget Proposal Harms New Yorkers

CPR calls for 50% cut to NYPD’s press and communications budget, amongst other budget demands

 

Today, marked the New York City Council FY25 Preliminary Budget Hearing on Public Safety. As part of their campaign for budget justice, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) members and partners offered testimony calling for specific cuts to the NYPD budget to improve the safety and health of all New Yorkers. Those testifying in-person or in writing included: Divad Durant and Merope Peponides from the Justice Committee, Obi Afriye from Legal Defense Fund, Isabelle Leyva from New York Civil Liberties Union, and CPR’s Program Director Ileana Mendez-Peñate. 

Governor’s Subway Plan Slammed by Communities United for Police Reform

In response to Governor Hochul’s subway safety plan, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from CPR spokesperson Ileana Méndez-Peñate (she/her), Program Director of Communities United for Police Reform.

Supporters Celebrate Override of Mayor’s Veto of Crucial Police Transparency Legislation

Today, the New York City Council voted to override Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of Intro 586 of the How Many Stops Act (HMSA) with a supermajority of votes.  The passage of the How Many Stops Act will bring urgent and necessary transparency about formerly unreported categories of stops - referred to as level 1 and 2 by the NYPD - which constitute the vast majority of the NYPD’s formal “investigative encounters” with civilians.

In Open Letter To Council, Coalition Rebukes NYPD Ride Alongs as PR Stunt, Urges Council to Override Mayor's Veto

Today, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), which coordinates the broader How Many Stops Act Coalition, delivered a letter to New York City Council Members urging them to consider Mayor Eric Adams’ request that they participate in “NYPD ride-alongs” a tactic in his dangerous misinformation campaign against the How Many Stops Act (HMSA). The letter also calls on the City Council to override the mayor’s veto of HMSA.

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