Albany, NY — In response to New York’s new police reform laws, including Repeal of 50-a, the Police STAT Act and Special Prosecutor legislation, Ivette Alfonso, President of Citizen Action of New York, released the following statement:
“Citizen Action is honored to fight alongside countless organizations and individuals who have, for years, demanded State action to end racist, violent policing and hold law-enforcement accountable. Today, as proud members of Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), we celebrate the passage and signing into law of three Safer NY Act priorities: Repeal of 50-A, the Police STAT Act and the Special Prosecutor law.
Together, these laws improve transparency and accountability of police departments and are important steps toward advancing real safety for Black, Brown, and Indigenous New Yorkers. Today’s wins would not have been possible without the dedicated organizing of family members impacted by police killings and countless grassroots organizations who are united in our commitment to ending state-sanctioned violence and police brutality. Our work is far from over. We will continue to dismantle the racist systems of mass policing, criminalization and incarceration that destabilize and harm low-income, Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, and fight to build the community-based infrastructure and public goods – affordable and stable housing, access to healthcare for all, just employment, fully funded public schools, robust community based programs, mental health and substance use services, violence interruption and restorative justice programs – that truly bring about safety and justice for all. We will continue to push forward on the path towards racial justice.”