Press Releases

For immediate release:
August 6, 2015

Police Reform Campaign Responds to Proposed Body Cams Bill by Sen. Squadron & Assemblyman Quart

In response to Senator Squadron and Assemblyman Quart introducing legislation to make the footage from body cams available to the public, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Priscilla Gonzalez.

“We applaud Senator Squadron and Assemblyman Quart for advancing transparency by proposing the public release of footage captured by body cameras. In order to end discriminatory and abusive policing, transparency that moves us towards true police accountability is essential. We hope all state legislators will support the many steps that are necessary to provide the accountability and transparency that promote equal protection under the law for all communities throughout New York.

For immediate release:
July 18, 2015

Mother of Ramarley Graham, Activists Hold Protest Action at Office of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara before Marching over Brooklyn Bridge to Join Brooklyn Rally

Group calls for Bharara to prosecute officers who killed Graham before joining rally outside DOJ New York Eastern District to demand same in killing of Eric Garner

The day after the one year mark of Eric Garner’s death, Constance Malcolm, the mother of the Ramarley Graham – the unarmed Bronx teenager who was shot and killed by NYPD in 2012 – was joined by community groups at a protest action outside of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s office. The group called for Bharara to prosecute the officers responsible for Graham’s death before marching across the Brooklyn Bridge to join the mass of protesters outside of the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse to call for the same in the killing of Eric Garner.

For immediate release:
July 17, 2015

In Year after Eric Garner Killed by NYPD Officers, de Blasio administration Took No Meaningful Action on Police Brutality & Accountability

In response to today being one year since Eric Garner was killed by NYPD officers in Staten Island, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Priscilla Gonzalez.

“After a year where the police abuse and brutality of civilians – and lack of accountability for it – received immense attention across the nation and here in New York, it’s shameful that New York City has failed to take any steps towards addressing this critical issue. Police brutality and discriminatory policing are what killed Eric Garner, and neither retraining nor ‘neighborhood policing’ will address this issue. This isn’t about police-community relations, it’s about stopping policing that abuses and brutalizes New Yorkers.

For immediate release:
July 8, 2015

Statement from CPR on Signing of Special Prosecutor Executive Order in New York

In response to Governor Cuomo signing an executive order to authorize the Office of the Attorney General as a special prosecutor in police killings, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from its members.

“The many families of New Yorkers killed by police who have tenaciously and selflessly championed the sound policy of appointing a special prosecutor to handle police killings are our s/heroes today,” said Priscilla Gonzalez, Organizing Director of Communities United for Police Reform.

For immediate release:
June 29, 2015

Families of New Yorkers Killed by NYPD Announce Support for Right to Know Act

In response to a City Council hearing on several policing reforms, the surviving family members of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD over the past two decades released the following joint statement.

“As family members of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD over the past two decades, we know first-hand that the rights of New Yorkers are too often disregarded by the NYPD.

“There's a clear imbalance of power between police officers and community members in daily interactions, and the rights of New Yorkers must be protected. There must be accountability, transparency & respectful communication in the most common daily interactions, whether on the street, in our cars or in our homes.

For immediate release:
June 29, 2015

Days after Council, Mayor Add 1,300 Cops in Budget, Calls for Council to Pass Right to Know Act Police Reforms Grow Louder at Hearing

Right to Know Act reforms, endorsed by Obama Taskforce on 21st Century Policing, are top priority of community groups

New York, NY – Following a week where the City Council adopted a budget that adds 1,300 new positions within the NYPD, community groups and elected officials called for passage of the Right to Know Act at a Council Public Safety Committee hearing on several pieces of legislation related to the NYPD.

 

For immediate release:
June 25, 2015

CPR Statement Re: City Council Scheduling Hearing on the Right to Know Act for Monday, June 29

In response to the City Council scheduling a hearing on the Right to Know Act legislative package and other legislation related to the police department, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Adilka Pimentel.

For immediate release:
June 25, 2015

CPR Responds to Announced NYPD “Neighborhood Policing” Plan

In response to the NYPD announcement unveiling a new “neighborhood policing” approach, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Priscilla Gonzalez.

“We appreciate the de Blasio administration’s expressed desire to change its approach to policing, but Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton's announcement today raises more questions than it answers. The mayor pointed to a new "neighborhood policing" approach as moving away from being ‘top-down’ and towards a more ‘grassroots’ oriented approach, yet communities and so many of the groups that devote themselves to uplifting them have not been meaningfully engaged in the development of this plan.

For immediate release:
June 22, 2015

CPR Responds to Budget Deal to Add 1,300 to NYPD Headcount

In response to Mayor de Blasio and the City Council announcing a budget agreement to add nearly 1,300 to the NYPD’s headcount, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Monifa Bandele.

“This deal to increase the NYPD headcount seems like politics at its worst, and is not in the best interest of the safety or long-term needs of our communities. It's disappointing and perplexing that the city budget will increase the NYPD headcount when systemic problems with police accountability and culture that allow New Yorkers to be abused and killed have yet to be fixed - and while major needs in our communities are under-resourced.

For immediate release:
June 14, 2015

CPR Responds to Cuomo Announcement on Special Prosecutor

In response to Governor Cuomo announcing that he will issue an executive order to authorize the appointment of a special prosecutor for one year, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from Jose Lopez.

“We applaud the tireless advocacy of the families who made this issue of unjust police killings of New Yorkers one that our state could no longer ignore, and credit Governor Cuomo for acknowledging the reality that their stories represent: a deep failure in our criminal justice system.

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