As more allegations of NYPD spying emerge, over 400 Muslim community members, elected officials…
PRESS ADVISORY
February 3, 2012
Press Contacts: Fahd Ahmed (940) 391-2660
Linda Sarsour (917) 306-3323
As More Revelations of NYPD Spying Emerge,
Muslim and Ally Communities to Rally Calling for NYPD Accountability
Today, as the Associated Press reports more secret NYPD documents showing targeted surveillance of thousands of Shi’a Muslims and their mosques based solely on their religion, and one week since the NYPD was caught lying to the public and Mayor about it’s use of a bigoted training film, Muslim and diverse communities across the city are continuing their call for accountability by holding a rally and march. Last week, Commissioner Ray Kelly and the NYPD was exposed for participating in the making and showing of the Islamophobic, hate documentary, “The Third Jihad” to 1,500 police officers and then repeatedly lying about it on the public record.
Who: Muslim communities, interfaith leaders, directly impacted community members, legal advocates, Shia religious leaders recently targeted.
What: Rally at Foley Square, followed by march to One Police Plaza When: Friday, February 3, 2012 from 3:00-4:15pm, March begins at 4:15pm
The Majlis Ash-Shura of Metro NY and DRUM (Desis Rising Up & Moving) are co-organizing a rally with the support of other Muslim communities, interfaith and other community allies, in order to call for the resignation of Commissioner Kelly and NYPD spokesperson Paul Brown, for community control of the NYPD, and a well-funded oversight mechanism with subpoena power.
Key organizer, Imam Al Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid, President of the Islamic Leadership Council of New York and imam of the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, says “Muslim New Yorkers are fed up with the NYPD unjustly targeting our community, violating the civil liberties of too many people, and lying about it with no repercussion. They are continuing to spy on multiple sections of NYC Muslims, with another report today about Shia Muslims. We are calling all people of conscience who share these to join with us in front of the sculpture ‘The Triumph of the Human Spirit’, across from the courthouse. Ray Kelly and Paul Browne must go!”
As Fahd Ahmed, legal and Policy Director of DRUM explains, “Commissioner Ray Kelly willingly participated in the making of the film, and while he has apologized, he has not explained why the NYPD chose to lie, on the record, about his participation for well over a year. In the same period, the NYPD has operated without transparency or accountability, and often with brute force, with Black, Latino, and other communities of color, youth, and the Occupy Wall Street activists.”
Supporting Organizations: (List in formation) 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, Arab Muslim American Federation, Council on American Islamic Relations- New York (CAIR-NY), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim American Civil Liberties Coalition (MACLC), Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), Al-Awda NY, Jews Against Islamophobia, New York City Labor Against the War, The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, Social Justice Task Force of Muslim Alliance in North America, ICNA New York, Muslim Peace Coalition-USA, NY, NYC Coalition to Stop Islamophobia, VAMOS Unidos, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Asian American Legal Defense Fund (AALDEF), Pakistan Solidarity Network, National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights, PAKISTAN USA FREEDOM FORUM, The Justice Committee, Project SALAM, BAYAN USA, Yemeni American Coalition for Change, Defending Dissent Foundation, May 1st Coalition for Worker & Immigrant Rights, Arab American Action Network (AAAN), Turning Point for Women and Families, International Action Center, WESPAC Foundation, Ad Hoc Coalition to Defend the Egyptian
Revolution, Committee to Stop FBI Repression-NY, Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Black Unity, CAAAV, Labor for Palestine, Veterans for Peace NYC Chapter 34, Muslim Consultative Network, Creating Law Enforcement Accountability and Responsibility (CLEAR), OWS Immigrant Worker Justice, Working Group, International Socialist Organization, Asian Law Caucus, The December 12th Movement , International Association Against Torture, Occupy/Ocupemos Sunset Park, World Can’t Wait, Jafria Association of North America (JANA), National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms (NCPCF), Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC), Code Pink, Muslim Consultative Network, Occupy Faith, New Sanctuary Coalition
