Justice Committee

“Centering Families in the Movement for Police Reform.”

The Justice Committee (JC) contributes to building a New York City in which people are not victimized by systemic racism and other forms of oppression and do not suffer or fear killings and abuse at the hands of the NYPD and other forms of law enforcement. The Justice Committee envisions a NYC where marginalized communities have power and mechanisms to hold the authorities accountable, are empowered to determine by what principles and methods the city is managed and kept safe, and have built meaningful ties to others communities organizing for justice throughout the United States and the world.

The Justice Committee is a vital part of New York’s movement to end police violence and ensure police accountability. The JC believes families who have lost loved ones to the police must be at the forefront of this movement and, through decades of experience, has developed unique model for working with families and supporting their voice and leadership.The JC supports family members in being advocates understanding the system, communicating and garnering support from the general public and using pressure to advocate for justice. The Justice Committee also builds the capacity of affected New Yorkers, holds law enforcement accountability and builds towards a safer, healthier, more powerful communities by providing Know Your Rights trainings.

Guiding Vision

Justice Committee long-term vision is a world in which the voices and needs of all become the imperative, a world not governed by the most “powerful” and materially wealthy. JC seeks to contribute to a coordinated global movement that will attain this world by building a New York City in which people are not victimized by systemic racism and other forms of oppression and do not suffer or fear killings and abuse at the hands of the NYPD and other forms of law enforcement.

Results

Special Prosecutor Campaign

  • An inherent conflict of interest between the District Attorney’s office and the
    police, contributes to the lack of accountability and transparency in cases of
    police misconduct and in the murder of civilians.
  • In 2015, NYS Governor Cuomo signed an executive order appointing the Attorney General’s office special prosecutor for such cases
  • In 2017 the special prosecutor bill passed the assembly. The JC and its partners will continue to campaign to reintroduce the bill in 2018 with the hope of getting it passed in the Assembly and the Senate

Fighting for justice and accountability for Ramarley Graham:

  • As a result of the JC organizing with Constance Malcolm, the mother of Ramarley Graham, and many ally organizations in Communities United for Police Reform, Richard Haste (who killed Ramarley Graham) was forced out of the NYPD in March 2017 and Scott Morris (the commanding officer on the scene) was forced out in January 2017. While this is nowhere near the full justice and accountability that Ramarley and his family deserve, it is a very rare level of NYPD discipline that would not have happened without Constance’s leadership and six years of citywide organizing.

Organized a Pilot Families Healing Retreat:

  • In 2017, the JC held it first Families Healing Retreat. The retreat gave 11 family members of those killed by the police, space for individual healing, self and collective care, tools to manage the psychological and physical impacts of trauma resulting from state violence, and an opportunity to pause and decompress from organizing work and the challenges of daily life.