Communities United for Police Reform

Communities United for Police Reform
Name	Communities United for Police Reform
Formation	2014
Type	Coalition
Headquarters	New York City
Region served	United States
Leader title	Executive Director

Communities United for Police Reform is a New York City–based coalition formed to advocate for policing reforms and accountability in the wake of high-profile law enforcement incidents. The coalition mobilizes civil rights groups, community organizations, labor unions, legal advocates, and faith leaders to pursue changes in policy, oversight, and practice across municipal and state institutions. Its work intersects with national movements, municipal campaigns, labor actions, and litigation involving policing practices and civil liberties.

History

Communities United for Police Reform emerged after a sequence of events including the Eric Garner (police-related death) case, the Ferguson unrest following the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the broader mobilizations connected to Black Lives Matter. Founding partners included local chapters of NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, The Legal Aid Society (New York), New York Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road New York, and labor affiliates such as the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. Early campaigns aligned with municipal debates over the role of the New York Police Department and the authority of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (New York City). The coalition’s timeline parallels legislative developments like the “Right to Know” law debates and state-level actions tied to the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly.

Mission and Goals

The coalition defines goals in relation to reforms proposed by stakeholders including activists connected to Black Lives Matter, legal advocates associated with the American Civil Liberties Union, and policy experts from institutions like Brookings Institution and Urban Institute. Key objectives have included ending practices such as stop-and-frisk as litigated in Floyd v. City of New York, strengthening independent oversight mechanisms similar to models used in Oakland Police Commission and Civilian Complaint Review Board (New York City), and advancing legislative measures comparable to provisions in the Community Safety Act and debates around the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program (as part of broader criminal justice dialogues). The coalition also prioritized demographic-specific outreach in neighborhoods represented by officials from bodies like the New York City Council and engaged faith networks including the Interfaith Alliance.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

The coalition functions as a partnership of member organizations rather than a standalone non-profit, with leadership composed of representatives from groups such as Make the Road New York, The Legal Aid Society (New York), New York Civil Liberties Union, and labor partners like 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and the Communications Workers of America. Steering committees coordinated with advocates from civil rights entities like National Action Network and legal practitioners from firms with ties to cases in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and appellate practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Public-facing leadership often engaged elected officials including members of the New York City Council, the office of the Mayor of New York City, and state legislators in the New York State Legislature.

Campaigns and Initiatives

Campaigns focused on legislative advocacy, public education, and litigation support, often in concert with movements and institutions like Black Lives Matter, ACLU, Color of Change, and legal teams linked to cases such as Floyd v. City of New York. Notable initiatives included efforts to modify oversight structures linking to the Civilian Complaint Review Board (New York City), policy campaigns tied to changes in New York Police Department training and data transparency similar to reforms promoted by the Police Executive Research Forum, and coalition activity around budget debates involving the New York City budget and proposals from the Office of Management and Budget (New York City). The coalition also organized community forums in neighborhoods represented by officials from the Bronx Community Board, Manhattan Community Board, and Brooklyn Community Board jurisdictions, and partnered on voter engagement work with groups like Working Families Party.

Impact, Criticism, and Controversies

The coalition influenced policy outcomes debated in forums including the New York City Council and contributed to public pressure that shaped reforms resonant with federal oversight patterns seen in Department of Justice investigations into policing practices. Supporters cited links between coalition advocacy and municipal changes in oversight, training, and data-sharing agreements; detractors included police labor organizations such as the Detectives' Endowment Association and the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York, which criticized proposed changes as undermining officer safety and due process, echoing claims raised in litigation before the Supreme Court of the United States and state courts. Controversies also involved debates with elected officials tied to mayors from the Mayoralty of Bill de Blasio and subsequent administrations, and media coverage in outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

Partnerships and Coalition Work

Partnerships extended to national organizations including NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, American Civil Liberties Union, Color of Change, and labor unions such as 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and Communications Workers of America. Local collaborations included faith-based groups like the New York State Interfaith Power & Light, immigrant rights organizations such as Make the Road New York, tenant advocacy groups linked to Metropolitan Council on Housing, and academic partners from institutions like Columbia University and New York University for policy research. The coalition coordinated with litigation partners in cases in venues such as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and engaged philanthropic funders and advocacy networks spanning entities like Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations.

Category:Law enforcement in New York City Category:Civil rights organizations in the United States