Press Statement: Police Accountability Board Alliance Supports City Council Legislation Creating the Rochester Police Accountability Board (May 21, 2019)
Primary tabs
Below is a press statement from the Police Accountability Board Aliance that was released shortly before the City Council session began where the legislation was passed unanimously into law.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Police Accountability Board Alliance Supports City Council Legislation Creating the Rochester Police Accountability Board
The Police Accountability Board Alliance supports the Rochester Police Accountability Board legislation to be voted on tonight by Rochester City Council. The legislation is not a be-all and end-all solution, not exactly what we have been advocating for, and may not work in the same way that we imagined it would. However, the legislation is a good step toward substantive police accountability. All parties throughout this process are to be commended for their time, effort, and courage in getting us to this point. Special thanks goes out to City Council President Loretta Scott for her continued work and commitment over these past couple of years.
Should City Council vote to pass the proposed legislation, the PAB would NOT be immediately established. The legislation being voted on merely sends the legislation to the ballot for voters to decide on November 5th. The PAB will not go into effect unless the referendum passes. It is absolutely vital that the people of this city go out and vote in favor of the proposed PAB legislation on November 5th.
We commend the work and support of the 54 member organizations of the Alliance, the Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union and the United Christian Leadership Ministry. Through our efforts over these past two years, we have been able to bring the most progressive civilian oversight legislation in the country just one step away from being enacted. It is also vital that during this push, we remember and honor those whose lives have been disrupted, uprooted, destroyed or ended by police misconduct committed by the Rochester Police Department.
The work, though, is far from done. The Alliance is transitioning from a campaign of persuading public officials to pass the PAB legislation to a campaign of public education and voter turnout to make sure the referendum passes in November. We call upon City Council to expend resources and be engaged in public education and promotion of the referendum.
We are absolutely confident that the majority of Rochester city residents support fair, independent, and comprehensive oversight of police misconduct. The next step is to make sure the majority lends their votes on November 5th.
In order to make this legislation a reality, the Alliance is seeking individuals to help knock on doors and become literate with the legislation. Please reach out to us on our website, PABNOW.com or our Facebook page Police Accountability Board Alliance. This push will require more resources than we have currently. We are always taking donations. Please consider giving at PABNOW.com.
Although we have made it this far, organizing for the referendum will be the hardest work we’ve put in.
###
