Press Releases

For immediate release: December 27, 2017

Mother of Ramarley Graham Responds to NY Supreme Court Judge’s Ruling against City & NYPD for Withholding Records in Killing of Unarmed Teenager & Misusing State Law 50-a

In response to a preliminary ruling by Supreme Court Justice Manuel Mendez in a lawsuit brought by the family of Ramarley Graham, Communities United for Police Reform, and the Justice Committee against the NYPD for refusing to comply with a FOIL request for information related to Graham’s killing, his mother Constance Malcolm released the following statement.

For immediate release: December 21, 2017

Mother of Ramarley Graham, Family’s Attorney & the Justice Committee Respond to NYPD Plea Agreements with Officers Involved in Killing Graham

In response to a report and other information confirming that two of the officers involved in the killing of Ramarley Graham (Sergeant Scott Morris and Officer John McLoughlin) reached plea agreements with the NYPD on departmental charges, the mother of Graham - Constance Malcolm – issued the following statement.

For immediate release: December 18, 2017

Communities United for Police Reform Responds to NYC Council Committee Vote on Police Reform Bill (Intro 541-C) & Bill That Undermines Police Accountability (Intro 182-D)

“While we are happy that Council Member Reynoso’s Intro 541-C passed, it’s disappointing that the Council’s Public Safety Committee decided to ignore the voices of New Yorkers directly impacted by police abuses, family members of New Yorkers killed by police over past decades, law enforcement associations of color, and over 200 civil rights, community, and legal organizations who oppose Intro 182-D. This version of the bill eliminates the most essential protections for New Yorkers in the majority of policing interactions, and has been advanced with only the support of those who obstructed it for the past four years. It isn’t sweeping, it isn’t reform and it isn’t progress – it’s a step backwards for New York City that will undermine police accountability.

For immediate release: December 12, 2017

Communities United for Police Reform Releases Statement on Right to Know Act Bills

In response to Right to Know Act bills being laid to age last night for an impending vote, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Monifa Bandele.

For immediate release: November 16, 2017

Communities United for Police Reform Statement on Right to Know Act

In response to Right to Know Act lead sponsors, Council Members Antonio Reynoso and Ritchie Torres, failing to take action on the legislation at today’s Stated Meeting and an anonymously sourced report about a deal being on the table, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Monifa Bandele.

“There is no deal on the Right to Know Act without non-emergency investigatory policing encounters being covered, including when police are doing investigatory questioning at Level 1 encounters. If a police officer can ask you for identification in non-emergency situations, there is no reason New Yorkers should be left without the identity of the officer and the reason for the encounter in such situations. Any purported bill that seeks to provide such a gaping loophole has no agreement from advocates and communities.

For immediate release: November 6, 2017

Family of Delrawn Small Responds to Not Guilty Verdict against NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs Who Killed Small

Family comments on failure of jury as injustice, racialized fear, racism in justice system and society; demands that Mayor de Blasio & NYPD Commissioner O’Neill fire Isaacs. 

In response to the jury finding NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs not guilty of murder for killing unarmed Delrawn Small on Atlantic Avenue on July 4, 2016, Delrawn Small’s brother and sister, Victor Dempsey and Victoria Davis, released the following statement.

“Nothing can bring Delrawn back or fill the void in our hearts and lives from our brother being taken from us by this senseless murder‎. We are devastated and outraged that the jury failed to ensure justice by not holding NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs accountable for murdering our brother. What Wayne Isaacs did that night – immediately shooting and killing our brother as he approached his car and leaving him to bleed out and die, when he had so many other options – was murder, in cold blood.

For immediate release: October 11, 2017

With Only 3 Months Left to Pass Bills, Hundreds of New Yorkers Descend on City Hall Demanding Action on Right to Know Act Police Reforms

Right to Know Act is supported by majority of council members, 200+ groups and Colin Kaepernick; policies received support from Obama policing taskforce and Council’s Young Women’s Initiative

For immediate release: September 26, 2017

Former Tennis Pro James Blake Responds to End of Disciplinary Trial for NYPD Officer

In response to the end of the disciplinary trial into Officer James Frascatore, who tackled and slammed James Blake to the ground before improperly placing him in handcuffs outside of his Manhattan hotel in 2015, James Blake released the following statement.

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