Press Releases

For immediate release: February 8, 2019

CPR to NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill: Real Police Transparency and Accountability Require Full Repeal of 50-a

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) released the following statement responding to NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill’s op-ed in the New York Daily News today:

For immediate release: February 7, 2019

At New York City Council Hearing Today, Families of Ramarley Graham, Saheed Vassell, and Delrawn Small Joined Police Reform Advocates to Call for Changes to NYPD Discipline System

NYPD was asked to listen to panel of family members, but refused and walked out of the hearing.

Today, family representatives for Ramarley Graham, Eric Garner, Saheed Vassell, and Delrawn joined advocates from Communities United for Police Reform to participate in a New York City Council hearing on reforming the broken NYPD disciplinary process for police officers who engage in misconduct and perpetrate harm against New Yorkers.  The advocates included speakers from the following groups: Make the Road New York, Girls for Gender Equity, Legal Aid Society, New York Civ

For immediate release: February 1, 2019

CPR Responds to NYPD Discipline Panel Report Released Today

 Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) released the following statement today responding to the release of a report from the Independent Panel on the Disciplinary System of the New York City Police Department

“The Panel’s report today affirms what New Yorkers of color and others impacted by police violence have long known: the NYPD’s disciplinary process lacks transparency and is fundamentally flawed. We share the Panel’s frustration with the fact that the NYPD disciplinary process is a systemic failure. The lack of transparency and meaningful NYPD discipline for police officers who engage in misconduct has worsened on Mayor de Blasio’s watch,” said Anthonine Pierre, a spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR).

For immediate release: January 31, 2019

Gwen Carr, Eric Garner’s Mother, Reacts to Today’s Disciplinary Hearing for NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo’s Upcoming Prosecution

New York, NY – Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, released the statement below about today’s NYPD disciplinary hearing for the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB)’s upcoming prosecution of NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo for killing Garner. It was the second hearing of its kind that has been held in recent months on Pantaleo's role in Garner's death.

For immediate release: December 24, 2018

Over a Hundred Families and Organizations Join Police Reform Advocates in Urging State Legislators to Fully Repeal Police Secrecy Law 50-a

Over 100 organizations and family members of New Yorkers killed by police joined Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) to urge New York State legislators to advance a full repeal of NYS 50-a. The law shields the records of law enforcement officers accused of misconduct from public view.

For immediate release: December 14, 2018

It's Time for an Independent Investigation: Outrage Over NYPD's Failure to Hold Officers Accountable for Brutally Attacking and Arresting Jazmine Headley

New York, NY – Tonight, police accountability advocates responded angrily to the news that the NYPD found no wrongdoing or misconduct on the part of officers who brutally attacked and arrested Jazmine Headley. Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) released the following statement calling for an independent investigation.

For immediate release: December 14, 2018

Families of Eric Garner and Delrawn Small Slam Mayor de Blasio’s Press Secretary for Racist Comments About “Fringe Activists” Criticizing the NYPD, and Demand Immediate Apology Today

Today, the families of Eric Garner and Delrawn Small slammed Mayor de Blasio’s press secretary Eric Phillips for his racist comments that critics of the NYPD are "fringe activists." Phillips first made the comments to Politico New York earlier today and, since then, he doubled down on them on Twitter.

For immediate release: December 5, 2018

Quam Ahmodu Should Still Be Alive Today: Family of Brooklyn Man Who Died in NYPD Custody Speaks Out, and Demands Justice for their Son

Young Nigerian Man in Flatlands, Brooklyn Screamed “I Can’t Breathe” Repeatedly, and Asked for Oxygen as NYPD Officers and EMT Let Him Die

Brooklyn, New York – Quam Ahmodu, a 24 year-old Nigerian immigrant, died in police custody in his family’s home in Flatlands, Brooklyn on October 23.  

His father Wasiu Ahmodu is speaking out today after seeing the NYPD spread false reports in the media about Quam’s death. 

For immediate release: December 4, 2018

Justice for Eric Garner: At City Hall, Gwen Carr, Police Reform Advocates, and Elected Officials Call for the Firing of All NYPD Officers Involved in Garner’s Death

New York, NY – Today, at City Hall, Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, joined police reform advocates and elected officials to call for the firing of all NYPD officers involved in the killing of Garner in 2014. They gathered for a press conference to mark the fourth anniversary of no indictment for NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in Garner’s death.

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