February 12, 2012 · www.gothamgazette.com |
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Recently on our Topic Pages
- Igor Kossov on Drawing the Line
- Igor Kossov on Bloomberg's Budget
- Sarah Crean on Ready to Frack?
- Jane C. Timm on Promises Kept
- Igor Kossov on Demanding Accountablity
This Month's Article ...

Community members try to find a nuanced voice in their critique of the NYPD's stop and frisk program while dealing with the stigma of speaking out against the police.
Recent Civil Rights Articles from the Gotham Gazette:
Community Members Struggle With Stop and Frisk
| Crackdown on Protests Could Spark More Scrutiny of Police
| After Police Clear the Park, A Range of Reactions
| The Day at Zuccotti Park -- and Beyond
Links in the News ...
- Albany Wants More Oversight of City Police (NY Times)
- Minorities Slam Revised Political Districts Map (Wall Street Journal)
- Police Commissioner Orders Street Narcotics Team Reviews After Shooting (WNYC)
- School-based Churches Look to Albany for Eviction Reprieve (WNYC)
- City to Pay $15 Million for Arrests Under Unconstitutional Loitering Law (Daily News)
- Quinn Hits Police Over Stop Policy (Wall Street Journal)
Researching Civil Rights ...
Ballot Design Deficiencies and Lost Votes
In 2010, tens of thousands of votes in New York state did not count due to overvotes — the invalid selection of more than one candidate. This report by the Brennan Center for Justice demonstrates how the lack of adequate overvote protections disproportionately affected the state's poorest communities, suggests commonsense reforms, and examines national implications. (December 8, 2011)
Who Gets Loans?
The number of conventional refinancing loans granted to homeowners in predominantly white neighborhoods in New York City increased between 2008 and 2009, according to a new report. In communities where 80 percent or more residents are people of color, though, the number of loans fell, according to the study by Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project and six affiliated groups. In Paying More for the American Dream V, the organizations examined the recent home mortgage data for New York City and six other metropolitan areas, and found disparities based on racial composition of neighborhoods. In New York, lenders were 1.6 times as likely to deny loans to those in predominantly white neighborhoods, in 2009. (May 4, 2011)
Unemployment Rate of Young Black Males
The unemployment rate for black men between the ages of 16-24 in the city was 33 percent in 2009, compared to a rate of 16 percent for all men in that age range. Young black males were hit particularly hard by the recession, seeing a rise in unemployment of around 10 percent from 2006. Young black males without a high school degree fared even worse, facing an unemployment rate of 52 percent in 2009. (January 7, 2011)
Police Stops
Over the last six years, the New York City police department made thousands of stops of New Yorkers that were unconstitutional and did not have any legal justification, according to a report prepared for the Center for Constitutional Rights. These stops, Columbia law school professor Jeffrey Fagan found, disproportionately affected black and Latino New Yorkers. As what the report sees as evidence of the questionable nature of the police actions, the report found that almost half of the stops were for "furtive movements," while only 0.15 percent of the stops resulted in the seizure of a gun. The report was prepared in conjunction with a class action lawsuit challenging the police department stop and frisks. (October 27, 2010)
Police Shooting Police
A task force created by Gov. David Paterson to study shootings of police by police has concluded that race is a factor in such incidents, particularly when the victim is an off-duty officer. While the panel could find no case where a white off-duty officer was shot by a fellow officer since 1982, nine off-duty officers of color have been killed by police, including two recent cases in New York State. The report said police share the racial biases of other Americans but said training can work to change that -- and praised the New York City police for their efforts to improve training. (June 1, 2010)
In 2010, tens of thousands of votes in New York state did not count due to overvotes — the invalid selection of more than one candidate. This report by the Brennan Center for Justice demonstrates how the lack of adequate overvote protections disproportionately affected the state's poorest communities, suggests commonsense reforms, and examines national implications. (December 8, 2011)
Who Gets Loans?
The number of conventional refinancing loans granted to homeowners in predominantly white neighborhoods in New York City increased between 2008 and 2009, according to a new report. In communities where 80 percent or more residents are people of color, though, the number of loans fell, according to the study by Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project and six affiliated groups. In Paying More for the American Dream V, the organizations examined the recent home mortgage data for New York City and six other metropolitan areas, and found disparities based on racial composition of neighborhoods. In New York, lenders were 1.6 times as likely to deny loans to those in predominantly white neighborhoods, in 2009. (May 4, 2011)
Unemployment Rate of Young Black Males
The unemployment rate for black men between the ages of 16-24 in the city was 33 percent in 2009, compared to a rate of 16 percent for all men in that age range. Young black males were hit particularly hard by the recession, seeing a rise in unemployment of around 10 percent from 2006. Young black males without a high school degree fared even worse, facing an unemployment rate of 52 percent in 2009. (January 7, 2011)
Police Stops
Over the last six years, the New York City police department made thousands of stops of New Yorkers that were unconstitutional and did not have any legal justification, according to a report prepared for the Center for Constitutional Rights. These stops, Columbia law school professor Jeffrey Fagan found, disproportionately affected black and Latino New Yorkers. As what the report sees as evidence of the questionable nature of the police actions, the report found that almost half of the stops were for "furtive movements," while only 0.15 percent of the stops resulted in the seizure of a gun. The report was prepared in conjunction with a class action lawsuit challenging the police department stop and frisks. (October 27, 2010)
Police Shooting Police
A task force created by Gov. David Paterson to study shootings of police by police has concluded that race is a factor in such incidents, particularly when the victim is an off-duty officer. While the panel could find no case where a white off-duty officer was shot by a fellow officer since 1982, nine off-duty officers of color have been killed by police, including two recent cases in New York State. The report said police share the racial biases of other Americans but said training can work to change that -- and praised the New York City police for their efforts to improve training. (June 1, 2010)
The New York City Bill of Rights Defense Campaign
The New York City Bill of Rights Defense Campaign (NYCBORDC) is a grassroots, nonpartisan campaign of the New York Civil Liberties Union. We are dedicated to restoring and defending civil rights and liberties which have been curtailed by federal, state, and local government actions since 9/11 in the name of national security
New York Civil Liberties Union
The NYCLU is a statewide organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of New Yorkers' civil liberties as enumerated in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York.
New York City Commission on Human Rights
The Commission enforces the City's Human Rights Law which prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, disability (including HIV/AIDS related conditions), lawful occupation, arrest or conviction record, marital status, family status, and retaliation. The Law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, as well as bias-related harassment.
Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force
Immigration Equality is a national organization fighting for equality under U.S. immigration law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and HIV-positive individuals.
American Civil Liberties Union
The nation’s chief defender of civil liberties, many useful links and explanations. "Working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States."
The New York City Bill of Rights Defense Campaign (NYCBORDC) is a grassroots, nonpartisan campaign of the New York Civil Liberties Union. We are dedicated to restoring and defending civil rights and liberties which have been curtailed by federal, state, and local government actions since 9/11 in the name of national security
New York Civil Liberties Union
The NYCLU is a statewide organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of New Yorkers' civil liberties as enumerated in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York.
New York City Commission on Human Rights
The Commission enforces the City's Human Rights Law which prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, disability (including HIV/AIDS related conditions), lawful occupation, arrest or conviction record, marital status, family status, and retaliation. The Law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, as well as bias-related harassment.
Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force
Immigration Equality is a national organization fighting for equality under U.S. immigration law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and HIV-positive individuals.
American Civil Liberties Union
The nation’s chief defender of civil liberties, many useful links and explanations. "Working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States."
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