New York, NY – Civil rights and community groups that joined forces to decry New York Police Department tactics now aim to become an electoral force. They hope to register thousands of voters concerned about the practice known as stop and frisk.
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A coalition called Communities United for Police Reform announced the effort Monday.
The voter drive signals how a debate over stop and frisk is coalescing into a factor in city politics — especially this fall’s mayoral election.
The coalition won’t endorse candidates. But leaders hope showing that many voters object to the NYPD’s extensive use of stop and frisk will prompt the contenders to pledge changes, or at least make their positions clear.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has vehemently defended the practice as a crime-fighting tool.
Candidates are split on the issue.
Stop and Frisk IS gun control. But some people would rather be KILLED BY THEIR OWN than stopped and frisked.
The only ones objecting to Stop and Frisk are crooks and criminals who are hindered by this!