As ‘Stop and Frisk’ trial unfolds, pols push anti-profiling bills
Speaker Quinn announces partial support;
Town hall meeting in Brooklyn on Wednesday
As the trial challenging the NYPD’s stop and frisk policy plays out before Southern District Judge Shira Scheindlin, Council Members Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn) and Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn) urged passage of the Community Safety Act, a set of bills aimed at curbing NYPD frisking of large numbers of residents, many in Brooklyn.
The act would ban profiling based on race, religion, immigration status, gender identity and other categories. It would also create an inspector general to investigate the policies and procedures of the NYPD; protect New Yorkers against unlawful searches; and require officers to identify themselves and explain why they are stopping someone.