A rally outside NYPD headquarters in Lower Manhattan Thursday demanded the city abolish what they call a harmful and racist policing tool.
“By surveilling, targeting and cataloging Black and Brown youth, this is harming our communities. It’s putting a target on youth,” Anthony Posada of the Legal Aid Society said.
What You Need To Know
G.A.N.G.S. Coalition is one advocacy group pushing for the passage of Intro 798, a City Council bill that would end the NYPD’s Criminal Group Database
Their call follows a city watchdog report that found the NYPD only partially implemented reforms meant to add oversight and transparency
The NYPD says the database helps investigators solve crimes, prevent violence, and inclusion doesn’t mean arrest or charges
The advocacy group “G.A.N.G.S. Coalition” is one group pushing for the passage of Intro 798, a City Council bill that would end the NYPD’s Criminal Group Database, often referred to as the gang database.
Their call follows a city watchdog report finding the NYPD only partially implemented reforms meant to add oversight and transparency.
“Critics can shout ‘abolish it’ all they want, but let’s think about the families burying their kids or the innocent bystander,” Deputy Commissioner for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry said.
The NYPD says the database helps investigators solve crimes, prevent violence, and inclusion doesn’t mean arrest or charges.
“They fail to acknowledge 96% of the shooting victims in the city are persons and people of Black and Brown color,” Daughtry said.
The report shows more than 8,500 names remain, a 60% drop since late 2022, though still mostly Black and Latino men.
Advocates argue it’s profiling, not prevention.
“60% — that’s a fascinating variable, right? It says why was 60% of those names on there,” Councilmember Alex Aviles said.
The inspector general says the NYPD has made progress, but still hasn’t met every reform promised.