Tyquan, a recent high school graduate and Avaaz member from Brooklyn, has been
stopped, handcuffed, and violently thrown to the ground by NYC police more times than he can count, often with no explanation.
Now he’s started a petition asking Mayor Bloomberg to end the police “stop and frisk” policy that is fueling this harassment.
Crime is at a record low, but
the practice of “stopping and frisking” primarily black and Latino New Yorkers has
exploded by 600% in the last decade. NYC’s Public Advocate recently called for a halt to “stop and frisk” and now a Federal Judge has called the policy
a broad abuse of fundamental constitutional rights, allowing a massive
class action lawsuit against the city.
But
the Mayor has dug in his heels, refusing to fold in spite of the legal ruling. Massive public opinion is the only thing that can end this police policy for good.
Let’s stand with Tyquan and bring a national call for justice to Mayor Bloomberg’s front door:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Mayor_Bloomberg_End_Stop_and_Frisk_Now/?vl
Tyquan’s story is hardly unique, in fact, it’s standard operating procedure for
the NYPD who have stopped and frisked over 200,000 people just like Tyquan this year alone. Worse, the stops are almost completely arbitrary. Officers cited vague sounding justifications for over half the stops made last year, including “furtive movements” and “inappropriate attire off season.” There’s also no evidence the policy is cutting down on crime – in over 90% of these stops the NYPD makes no arrests, or even issues a ticket.
And white men accounted for only 4% of those stops last year.
If enough of us stand with Tyquan
we can show Mayor Bloomberg that a growing national outcry demands better of him – and New York. Sign and share now, when our call reaches 100,000 strong, we’ll deliver this petition directly to Mayor Bloomberg at City Hall urging him to do the right thing and halt this reckless policy:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Mayor_Bloomberg_End_Stop_and_Frisk_Now/?vl
As a member, Tyquan has been inspired by the Avaaz community’s work to stop
Internet censorship, end deforestation and prevent attacks on women’s rights around the world –
now its our chance to stand with Tyquan and lend people-power to the fight against racial injustice and police abuse in New York.
With hope and determination,
Emma, Joseph, Ricken, Andrew, Brant, Kya and the whole Avaaz team
PS: Have you been harassed by law enforcement where you live? Click here to start a petition like Tyquan’s:
http://avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?ps14480
MORE INFORMATION
Public Advocate to Call for Audit of Stop-and-Frisk Tactic (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/nyregion/new-york-public-advocate-to-call-for-an-audit-of-police-stop-and-frisk-tactic.html
NYPD stop-and-frisk lawsuit now class action in victory for civil rights groups (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/16/new-york-stop-and-frisk-lawsuit
In 2011, NYPD Made More Stops Of Young Black Men Than The Total Number Of Young Black Men In New York (ThinkProgress)
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/05/10/481589/nypd-stop-and-frisk-young-black-men/
New NYCLU Report Finds NYPD Stop-and-Frisk Practices Ineffective, Reveals Depth of Racial Disparities (NYCLU)
http://www.nyclu.org/news/new-nyclu-report-finds-nypd-stop-and-frisk-practices-ineffective-reveals-depth-of-racial-dispar
NYPD Stop And Frisks: 15 Shocking Facts About A Controversial Program (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/13/nypd-stop-and-frisks-15-shocking-facts_n_1513362.html?ref=new-york&ref=new-york
Why is the NYPD after me? (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/opinion/sunday/young-black-and-frisked-by-the-nypd.html?pagewanted=all
‘Quotas exist’: Former NYPD Officers discuss the data driven department
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/05/5837828/quotas-exist-former-nypd-officers-discuss-data-driven-department?politics-bucket-headline
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