CAIR-NY Welcomes Upcoming NYC Council’s Vote on POST Act NYPD Surveillance Reform Bill
(NEW YORK, N.Y. 6/8/2020) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson's announcement that the council will vote on the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act, an essential NYPD surveillance reform bill.
CAIR-NY, along with other coalition partners, has worked to have the POST Act co-sponsored by 32 of the 51 NYC Council Members, as well as Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
The POST Act would provide transparency by requiring the NYPD to issue a report on the surveillance technology it utilizes, help to answer questions about the impact of surveillance on communities and give insight to the funding to acquire such tools.
CAIR-NY was one of 70 diverse organizations demanding the passing of the POST Act and has been working with coalition members such as, but not limited to, National Action Network, Legal Aid Society, Empire State Indivisible, National Lawyers Guild, and the Brennan Center for Justice to urge the Council Speaker to allow the bill to come to a vote.
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In a statement welcoming the upcoming vote of the POST Act, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
“The POST Act is one of many reforms needed to safeguard civil liberties against abusive law enforcement tactics. Surveillance technologies are often employed against communities of color, Muslims and political activists. As we witness a promising upsurge of protests against the unjust policing of communities of color, CAIR-NY welcomes Speaker Johnson’s willingness to advance this crucial bill. We continue to passionately insist that, as technology advances, public oversight of surveillance practices becomes more robust, and that the NYPD acts with much greater transparency.”
CAIR-NY is centrally dedicated to demanding law enforcement accountability, and sweeping surveillance reform
SEE: CAIR-NY Launches Anti-Surveillance Project
CAIR-NY is a chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization.
CAIR-NY’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, anasher@cair.com, 917-669-4006; CAIR-NY Litigation Director Ahmed Mohamed, ahmedmohamed@cair.com, 646-481-2103