Press Releases

For immediate release: December 18, 2019

CPR Slams MTA for Approving Budget to Hire 500 New Police

New York, NY - In response to today’s news that the MTA board approved the hiring of 500 new MTA police for NYC transit, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) released the following statement from spokesperson Anthonine Pierre (pronouns: she/her):
For immediate release: December 13, 2019

Family of 27-Year-Old Antonio Williams, Killed by NYPD, Slams Mayor and NYPD for Refusing Access to Unedited Police Body Camera Footage in Major Test of NYPD's Body Camera Policy

Father and Stepmother of Antonio Williams Respond to NYPD's Selective Release of Body Camera Footage

NEW YORK, NY – Today, Antonio Williams’ father, stepmother and brother – joined by elected officials and police accountability advocates – rallied in front of NYPD headquarters to protest Mayor de Blasio and the NYPD’s refusal to provide Williams’ family with full access to unedited police body camera footage of the September 29th Bronx police

For immediate release: December 12, 2019

Parents of Man Slain by Police Call on Mayor de Blasio to “Show Our Family Some Respect and Compassion”

In major test of NYC’s police body-worn camera policy, Antonio Williams’ family demands access to all unedited body camera footage and NYPD-produced video before scheduled release to the public
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For immediate release: December 9, 2019

Family of Man Killed by NYPD, Elected Officials and Police Accountability Advocates Demand Answers and Accountability

The family of Antonio Williams is demanding transparency and accountability from Mayor de Blasio and the NYPD over the NYPD killing of Antonio in September.

For immediate release: November 26, 2019

Progressive Advocates Condemn Governor's Plan For 500 New MTA Police Officers, Urge Investments in Transit Service Instead

In a letter Monday, police accountability, transit and racial justice advocates demanded Governor Cuomo shift MTA priorities away from expensive new law enforcement effort aimed at subway and bus riders and toward core service provision instead

New York, NY-- Eighty local, statewide and national progressive organizations, including police accountability, transit advocacy, racial justice and other groups wrote to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday in an effort to combat police abuse and head off a diversion of scarce public transit funds. The groups demanded that the governor not hire a planned 500 new MTA police officers and instead spend transit funding on the agency's core mission of providing accessible and reliable subway, bus, and rail service to 8.6 million New Yorkers each day.

For immediate release: November 18, 2019

Police accountability coalition slams NYPD's body camera testimony at November 18th New York City Council hearing

New York, NY: The NYPD released a new policy last month related to public release of body camera footage and testified at an oversight hearing held by the NY City Council on the policy today. In response to the NYPD's testimony, the following statement was issued by Milan Taylor, Executive Director of Rockaway Youth Task Force and spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform:

New York, NY: The NYPD released a new policy last month related to public release of body camera footage and testified at an oversight hearing held by the NY City Council on the policy today. In response to the NYPD's testimony, the following statement was issued by Milan Taylor, Executive Director of Rockaway Youth Task Force and spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform:

For immediate release: November 4, 2019

Outgoing NYPD Commissioner Leaves Legacy of Abusive Policing, Expanded Police Secrecy and Blocking Accountability for Misconduct

Reported Replacement Dermot Shea Signals Continuing Secrecy and Broken Windows Policing

– NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill announced his resignation today after three years in the role marked by abusive policing and failures of transparency and accountability for police misconduct.

For immediate release: November 1, 2019

Mother of Kawaski Trawick & Attorney Slam Bronx District Attorney for Disrespectful & Unprofessional Stonewalling of Basic Information

Trawick Family Walks Out of Meeting Due to Bronx DA Office’s “Selective Transparency

Bronx, New York - After walking out of a meeting with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the mother of Kawaski Trawick and her attorney Royce Russell, released the following statements. 

For immediate release: October 21, 2019

Hawa Bah & Advocates Slam de Blasio’s Doubling Down on NYPD Involvement in Mental Health Response

New York, NY - Hawa Bah, the mother of Mohamed Bah, and other advocates react to news that Mayor de Blasio’s Task Force on Crisis Prevention & Response will continue police response to mental health situations.

For immediate release: October 17, 2019

New Yorkers Slam Mayor de Blasio for Pulling City Officials From State Senate Hearing on Nation’s Worst Police Secrecy Law (50-a)

Mothers of Eric Garner, Ramarley Graham & Sean Bell join Other Advocates Testify to Urge Legislature to Fully Repeal 50-a

New York, NY – On October 17, New Yorkers, including mothers of those killed by NYPD officers, and other police accountability advocates testified before the State Senate Committee on Codes in support of a bill to repeal New York state’s police secrecy law, 50-a (S.3695-Bailey/A-2513 O’Donnell).

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