Mercedes Narcisse and her views on Stop & Frisk Policy

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Aug. 21, 2013 - PRLog -- In the landmark case known as Floyd v the City of New York, lawyers argued that the NYPD's policy systematically and knowingly violates the rights of millions of mostly Black and Latino New Yorkers. More than 5 million stop and frisks have taken place during the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The case challenged alleged abuses in the New York Police Department's practice of stop, question, and frisk.

"I welcome the court's decision against the NYPD's racially biased and unconstitutional stop-and-frisk program. Judge Scheindlin’s ruling helped all New Yorkers mark a milestone in balancing the power between the people and the state and moving the civil rights movement one important step forward.

No court case was more critical to the future of New York City than this one. The stakes were the constitutional rights of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who have been illegally stopped by the NYPD and the rights of those who will be stopped in the future. The trial and its outcome marks an historic moment for New York.

The NYPD makes more than half a million stops each year, which equate to literally thousands of stops each and every day. As a result, the rights of countless New Yorkers are being routinely violated, and entire city neighborhoods are living under siege from their own police department.


Because of stop and frisks, Black and brown people, gay and transgender people, young folks, and other folks are fearful every time that they step out of their houses.

I hope that the court’s rebuke of the NYPD's stop-and-frisk program will end any discussion of the potential nomination of New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Kelly has called this unconstitutional program 'essential' and said 'you can't police without doing it.'


“Stop and frisk unlawfully discriminates, stereotypes and targets Black, Latinos and any other minorities that the NYPD believes “fit the profile.” This recent ruling slaps that belief in the face and invalidates Mayor Bloomberg’s adamant justification and support for this controversial program.”