State Caucus Leads Coalition to Washington Against the Unfair Stop and Frisk Policy

Diverse Delegation to Meet with Leaders of Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus
New York, NY – Tomorrow, members of the New York State Black Puerto Rican Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus will join with members of the New York City Council Black Latino and Asian Caucus, the New York Civil Liberties Union and others in an unprecedented trip to Washington DC to advocate against the controversial “Stop and Frisk” policy with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus The event being hailed as “Stop and Frisk Advocacy Day” is a collaborative effort focused on the need for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the NYPD’s abuse of stop-and-frisk as a civil rights violation. In a letter to the Attorney General Eric Holder, the Delegation writes: “Last year alone, New York City Officers stopped 684,330 people under the stop-and-frisk policy. This amounted to a 14 percent jump from the previous year. Even more shocking is the 600 percent increase in stops made since the data collection began in 2002. Most of those who are stopped are not arrested or even issued a summons; further igniting concern that the policy amounts to nothing more than racial profiling and harassment.” “New Yorkers are fed up with this policy that continually targets our communities.” Said Assembly Member Karim Camara (D – Brooklyn), Chair of the NYS Caucus . “The numbers tell a tragic story. One recent report said that more young black men were stopped than actually lived in the city. We cannot get away from the fact that there is implicit racial bias in this tactic used by the NYPD. Since City officials refuse to listen, we are taking our cause to Washington. It’s time for some high-powered back up to advocate for the civil rights of New Yorkers.” Stop and Frisk Advocacy day has been the product of many elected officials and advocacy organizations. “Last year alone, the NYPD stopped enough totally innocent New Yorkers to fill Madison Square Garden more than 30 times over,” said New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “It is not a crime to walk down the street in New York City, yet every day innocent black and brown New Yorkers are turned into suspects for doing just that. It is a stunning abuse of power that undermines trust between police and the community. If the mayor won’t deal with the stop-and-frisk epidemic, we hope Washington will.” Stop and Frisk Advocacy Day will be an in-depth conversation with policy makers between City, State and Federal elected officials and advocates with a vested interest in seeing the practice reformed. They will discuss the troubling statistics as well as other possible tactics the NYPD can begin to use. “Commissioner Kelly has gone on record numerous times in a attempt to call out legislators for not bringing other solutions to the table, this time we will answer those claims, but the question still remains- will he listen?” said Assembly Member Camara "Commissioner Kelly's support and practice of stop and frisk does not make New York streets safer. Studies have shown that most of stops do not conclude in an arrest or even a summons. This form of racial profiling does nothing but foster distrust and incense the very communities that the NYPD are hired to protect. It's time for us to protect the constitutional rights of the innocent and restore the public trust in NY's finest." said State Senator Kevin Parker who will be participating in the delegation to Washington. From 12 noon EST to 12:45PM EST, a press conference will be held to highlight the negative affects stop- and-frisk has had on New York City residents and how it is being used as a conduit for racial profiling. Elected officials and advocacy groups will also urge the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to investigate the abuses of stop-and-frisk. New York, NY – Tomorrow, members of the New York State Black Puerto Rican Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus will join with members of the New York City Council Black Latino and Asian Caucus, the New York Civil Liberties Union and others in an unprecedented trip to Washington DC to advocate against the controversial “Stop and Frisk” policy with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus The event being hailed as “Stop and Frisk Advocacy Day” is a collaborative effort focused on the need for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the NYPD’s abuse of stop-and-frisk as a civil rights violation. In a letter to the Attorney General Eric Holder, the Delegation writes: “Last year alone, New York City Officers stopped 684,330 people under the stop-and-frisk policy. This amounted to a 14 percent jump from the previous year. Even more shocking is the 600 percent increase in stops made since the data collection began in 2002. Most of those who are stopped are not arrested or even issued a summons; further igniting concern that the policy amounts to nothing more than racial profiling and harassment.” “New Yorkers are fed up with this policy that continually targets our communities.” Said Assembly Member Karim Camara (D – Brooklyn), Chair of the NYS Caucus . “The numbers tell a tragic story. One recent report said that more young black men were stopped than actually lived in the city. We cannot get away from the fact that there is implicit racial bias in this tactic used by the NYPD. Since City officials refuse to listen, we are taking our cause to Washington. It’s time for some high-powered back up to advocate for the civil rights of New Yorkers.” Stop and Frisk Advocacy day has been the product of many elected officials and advocacy organizations. “Last year alone, the NYPD stopped enough totally innocent New Yorkers to fill Madison Square Garden more than 30 times over,” said New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “It is not a crime to walk down the street in New York City, yet every day innocent black and brown New Yorkers are turned into suspects for doing just that. It is a stunning abuse of power that undermines trust between police and the community. If the mayor won’t deal with the stop-and-frisk epidemic, we hope Washington will.” Stop and Frisk Advocacy Day will be an in-depth conversation with policy makers between City, State and Federal elected officials and advocates with a vested interest in seeing the practice reformed. They will discuss the troubling statistics as well as other possible tactics the NYPD can begin to use. “Commissioner Kelly has gone on record numerous times in a attempt to call out legislators for not bringing other solutions to the table, this time we will answer those claims, but the question still remains- will he listen?” said Assembly Member Camara "Commissioner Kelly's support and practice of stop and frisk does not make New York streets safer. Studies have shown that most of stops do not conclude in an arrest or even a summons. This form of racial profiling does nothing but foster distrust and incense the very communities that the NYPD are hired to protect. It's time for us to protect the constitutional rights of the innocent and restore the public trust in NY's finest." said State Senator Kevin Parker who will be participating in the delegation to Washington. From 12 noon EST to 12:45PM EST, a press conference will be held to highlight the negative affects stop- and-frisk has had on New York City residents and how it is being used as a conduit for racial profiling. Elected officials and advocacy groups will also urge the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to investigate the abuses of stop-and-frisk. What: NYPD Racial Profiling Practices Briefing Where: House Visitors Center Room 201 (HVC 201) When: Press Conference, Capitol Hill House Triangle
12noon EST- 12:45PM EST
Stop and Frisk Forum Thursday, June 7th from 1-3PM EST. Who: U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-11)
NY Assemblyman Karim Camara
NYC Councilmember Jumaane Williams
Senator Kevin Parker
Senator Eric Adams
Senator Adriano Espilliat
Senator Bill Perkins
Assemblyman Phil Ramos
NY Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry
NY Assemblyman William Boyland Jr.
NY Assemblywoman Barbara Clark
NY Assemblyman Nick Perry
NYC Councilmember Daniel Dromm
NYC Councilmember Brad Lander
NYC Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito
NYC Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez
NYC Councilmember Deborah Rose Advocacy Groups:
New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)
Communities United for Police Reform
Center for Constitutional Rights
American Civil Liberties Coalition (MACLC)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)