As Ramzi Kassem reports in the new issue of The Nation, the NYPD has created perhaps the largest spying program by a local law enforcement agency on record—a sprawling effort to map entire communities that emerged from the toxic convergence of the permanent state of emergency gripping our society since 9/11 with the NYPD’s historic tendencies.
TO DOIn the face of stop-and-frisk and surveillance of Muslims, Communities United for Police Reform, a campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, is working to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and policing based on cooperation and respect—not discriminatory targeting and harassment. Stand with CPR and take this pledge to demand increased transparency and accountability from the NYPD, and an end to discriminatory and abusive law enforcement. After you’ve weighed in share this post with friends, family and your Twitter and Facebook communities.
TO READA team of Associated Press reporters first exposed the NYPD’s intelligence operations surveilling Muslim citizens. To get a sense of the scope and enormity of the program, start with this story.
TO WATCHThis video of a "know your rights" workshop at a CUNY Muslim Students Association took place late last fall in the wake of the AP reports, which included confirmation that this particular MSA had been targeted for surveillance and infiltration by the NYPD Intelligence Division.
A weekly guide to meaningful action, this blog connects readers with resources to channel the outrage so many feel after reading about abuses of power and privilege. Far from a comprehensive digest of all worthy groups working on behalf of the social good, Take Action seeks to shine a bright light on one concrete step that Nation readers can take each week. To broaden the conversation, we’ll publish a weekly follow-up post detailing the response and featuring additional campaigns and initiatives that we hope readers will check out. Toward that end, please use the comments field to give us ideas. With your help, we can make real change.
