Repealing Section 50a - a law that shields the personal records used to evaluate police officers' performance (Here's a guide to 50-a and read the law here.)
The Police STAT Act - improve transparency within the police department by requiring police to report demographic and geographic data on low-level crimes and requiring comprehensive public reporting on deaths in custody. (Read the bills here: A5472A/S1830C.)
Defund NYPD - a movement to move to a divest/invest model where money is taken out of the NYPD's budget and instead used for schools, youth services, mental health, and homeless services, among other positive community needs. Read more about it here.
2. Take action
Call you State Representatives (find the phone numbers here) about Repealing Section 50-a and The Police STAT Act. Here is a script to guide your calls.
Call your City Councilperson (find their phone number here) and Melanie Hartzog, Director of the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget (212-788-5800) to divert money from NYPD's budget to support community services at risk because of COVID-19demand cuts to the NYPD budget. Amplifying The Tank's wonderful list of resources, this is a script for what to say when making these calls.
3. Ready to take more action?
Here is a list of Resources we have found helpful to guide our attempts to read, listen, learn, and do more.
The League of Independent Theater is adding our voice to the surging tide calling out the racism and white supremacy culture that is ever-present in the United States.
We stand with our Black artists and audience members. We see you. We hear you. We respect you. We value you.
We join in calling on New York State to repeal 50-a, and to pass the Police Stat Act, and the rest of the #SaferNYAct bills.
We join in calling on New York City to pass an equitable city budget that directs resources away from the NYPD and towards social service programs.
The League of Independent Theater believes this is every person's fight.
Every one of us must do all we can to bring an end to the unjust systems plaguing our country.
