Press Releases

For immediate release:

January 28, 2020

Communities United for Police Reform responds to the Police Benevolent Association’s Lawsuit announced today

In response to the Police Benevolent Association’s lawsuit announced today in attempt to remove the Civilian Complaint Review Board’s (CCRB) charter amendments, Communities United for Police Reform has released the following statement from spokesperson Carolyn Martinez-Class:

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January 8, 2020

Communities United for Police Reform responds to Governor Cuomo's State of the State and failure to address police violence

In response to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2020 State of The State address, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement, which can be attributed to spokesperson Nahal Zamani:

"We’re disappointed in Governor Cuomo’s failure to address reducing police violence and improving police accountability and transparency in New York State.

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January 7, 2020

Civil rights, good government and community groups call on Governor Cuomo to promote police transparency and accountability through full repeal of police secrecy law 50-a

In a letter to Governor Cuomo, sixty-four civil rights, good government and community organizations from across the state of New York are calling 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 ac

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January 5, 2020

Retired Albany Police Chief Calls For Repeal of Police Secrecy Law

Retired Chief Brendan Cox: “Repealing New York’s 50-a law is a critical step to protect the public safety of all New Yorkers.”

On the eve of the 2020 legislative session, retired Albany Chief of Police Brendan Cox took to the pages of the Albany Times Union today to call for the repeal of New York State’s police secrecy law, Section 50-a, which hides police misconduct and abuse records from the public. Cox argued that overturning the law is a “practical solution” that will help restore trust between police departments and the communities they serve.

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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):

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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 29^th Bronx police

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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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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.

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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.

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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:

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