By Faiza N. Ali On November 5, 2013, New Yorkers voted overwhelmingly for Bill de Blasio, buying into his vision for a more progressive and fair city. It was de Blasio’s commitment to reform the nation’s largest police department that … Continued
Stop and Frisk
New Report, Book Reveal Depths of NYPD Spying on Muslims
In the midst of intense scrutiny of the New York Police Department’s racial and religious profiling policies, a group of Muslim youths say they were beaten by NYPD officers late last month in a Bronx park. Two sisters, ages … Continued
Judge: New York’s Stop-and-Frisk Policy is Unconstitutional
In a landmark victory for civil rights, a federal judge ruled Monday that the New York Police Department’s problematic stop-and-frisk policy violates constitutional rights and must be changed. The ruling comes after a four-month-long trial that has shined light on sanctioned racial profiling in the … Continued
Possibility of Ray Kelly Heading DHS Raises Rightful Concerns
During an impromptu speech Friday, President Obama spoke movingly about the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman case. He personalized the tragedy, noting that “Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.” His statements brought to mind passages from his book, The Audacity of … Continued
In Light of Zimmerman Ruling, Racial Profiling Poses Even Greater Threat to Black & Brown Bodies
In the days since a Florida jury found George Zimmerman not guilty of murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, there has been an outpouring of reactions across the Internet and in the streets. Race, as it did in the commentary surrounding the trial, has played … Continued
NYC Mayor Threatens to Veto Bills that Protect Citizens from “Stop & Frisk”
Last week, the New York City Council voted to approve police oversight bills meant to end discriminatory policing that critics say have unfairly and unconstitutionally targeted the city’s communities of color. The decisions to pass the Community Safety Act and to create … Continued
Obama Administration Supports Monitor if ‘Stop & Frisk’ Struck Down
A few days ago the Obama Administration came out in support of a court appointed monitor in the event that stop and frisk is struck down. New York’s Stop and Frisk trial is nearly over and the city only awaits the … Continued
Far Right Turns to Race & Religion to Define Political Violence
The recent brutal attack on a soldier in London by men identifying as Muslims has reignited the debate about what the term “terrorism” means and to whom it applies. Anti-Muslim activists in the United States were quick to label the … Continued