Demand action over Garner

Do black lives matter? The grand jury in the Eric Garner case in Staten Island didn’t seem to think so. They ignored a video and the medical examiner’s finding of homicide in order to not indict Officer Pantaleo. 

We think most of the readers of The Riverdale Press do believe that black lives matter as much as white lives. Here’s something simple they can do to prevent similar injustices in the future. The actions below are not a cure-all, but they are steps in the right direction.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has pointed out that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has the power to issue an executive order that would empower Mr. Schneiderman as a special prosecutor in instances where an unarmed civilian’s death results from police action. This would be temporary. Once a bill requiring a special prosecutor in these cases passes the legislature and is signed into law, the executive order would be voided. Such a bill will be introduced in the next session of our legislature that begins in January, but it will have a hard time passing in the Senate, so having the attorney general fill this gap in the meantime is necessary. The governor should issue this executive order. 

Right now, there is a very dangerous bill sitting on Mr. Cuomo’s desk. It should be vetoed. This bill would allow police unions to make police disciplinary policies subject to contract negotiations. It would undermine the ability of local government officials across New York State to discipline officers engaged in misconduct and brutality. Police departments are paramilitary organizations. Disciplinary procedures should not be subject to collective bargaining. The governor should veto this bill.

Body cameras for police officers would be beneficial. Although video was not enough in the Garner case, such cameras will affect behavior. No one ever says a building should remove surveillance cameras just because no one was convicted of a crime that was committed in that building. The governor should put money for police body cameras in his next budget.

Riverdale Press readers can call on Mr. Cuomo to do these three things:

1. Issue an executive order directing the Office of the Attorney General of New York State to serve as special prosecutor in cases involving civilians killed by police officers.

2. Veto S7801/A9853, which would allow police unions to make disciplinary policies part of contract negotiations.

3. Add money to his next budget to pay for body cameras for police.

The governor’s number is 518-474-8390. You can leave a recorded message at any time. If black lives matter to you, call now.

The authors are members of Northwest Bronx For Change, a local progressive group.