Support The Movement for Black Lives

We at DFNYC are saddened and outraged at the killing of Alfred Olango, a 30-year-old unarmed Black man, was shot by police in El Cajon, California on Tuesday, September 27th.

The police arrived at his home after his sister called 911 as he was suffering a mental breakdown and was afraid he might hurt himself. Within two minutes of arriving on the scene, police opened fire on Alfred after he pointed an object (an e-cigarette) at them. After seizing the cell phone of a witness who recorded the shooting, police have have not released the video -- but decided instead to release a still photo to influence initial public perception and media coverage.

Alfred Olango joins a painfully long list of Black Americans -- including Terence Crutcher, Keith Lamont Scott, Philando Castile, and Alton Sterling -- who have suffered appalling deaths at the hands of police this year (according to the Washington Post, 174 Black Americans have been killed in officer-involved shootings in 2016). These killings have outraged millions and struck many numb at the endless news cycle of senseless tragedy and lack of accountability for those who are supposed to "serve and protect" us.

We must not remain silent as the pain of communities of color grows louder under the systemic oppression of our criminal justice system -- and the life and death consequences it renders every day. The time for simply being a sympathetic but passive "ally" to the movement is over. If we are going to achieve transformative change that saves lives, we have a responsibility to meaningfully join this fight for racial justice and not just sharing our shock, outrage, and pain on social media.

This is a moral moment for each of us and our country. We, at Democracy for New York City, encourage our members to take action and hold police accountable so another senseless tragedy does not take place.

DFNYC is deeply committed to fighting against systemic racism and inequity. We support the Movement for Black Lives and its transformative vision of racial and economic justice, equal treatment in our criminal justice system, and relief from our nation's long history of oppression, as well other organizations at the forefront of this struggle that coordinate actions, messages and campaigns, such as the Black Youth Project 100, Color of Change, and the Black Lives Matter Network, that are working together to organize, train, and enact reforms and policies that will fundamentally improve the lives of communities of color. 

We encourage our members to get involved, as there is simply no time to waste. We are not powerless and can make a difference to ensure that these senseless tragedies no longer take place.

Phone Bank for Paul Newell

Phone Banks are going on everyday at Paul Newell's campaign office.  Come make phone calls any afternoon for Paul:

What: Phone Banks for Paul Newell

Where: Paul Newell for Assembly Campaign Office-- 260 East Broadway, Suite 2

When: 12 noon to 9 p.m. every day (just stop by, tell them you are with DFNYC!)

For more information contact  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Demand a ban on sales of semi-automatic weapons

The events in Orlando underscore the need to renew our calls for the ban of sales of semi automatic weapons. DFNYC is a member of the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence coalition. NYAGV is encouraging people to contact their local elected Congressional representation and demand a federal ban on assault weapons. At the time there was such a ban but it was tragically allowed to expire. Please use NYAGV's website links to contact your representatives:

http://nyagv.org/doing-nothing-is-unacceptable/

Restore the Voting Rights Act!

This week is the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The VRA is under siege right now. GOP lawmakers in many key states are finding ways to restrict the right to vote. A key part of the VRA was invalidated by the Supreme Court in 2013. There is a petition being circulated by vratoday.org and the Leadership Conference at www.civilrights.org  Tell your congressman that you demand that action be taken in Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act 

""If we fail or cannot repair the damage done to this act ... we will be less a democratic country, a democratic society" Congressman John Lewis