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Arrests & Illegal Searches - Building Community Safety and Racial Justice Together

Tuesday June 7, 2011
5:45 - 8:00 pm
Gallery, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office
163 West 125th street, NY, NY

Media Contacts: Chino at 718-502-8854 or Kassandra at 212-613-8053  

Why:
• To Build a Future Beyond Prisons for Children & Youth
• To Adopt Health and Safety-Based Approaches to Drug Policy
Background
Marijuana possession arrests are the number one arrest in NYC, making up 15% of all arrests.
Over 50,000 marijuana possession arrests were made in 2010, despite marijuana possession
being decriminalized in 1977.
• Extreme racial bias: 86% of those arrested are Black and Latino despite Whites smoking at
higher rates.
• Targeting Youth of Color: Over 55% of those arrested are between 16 – 24 years old, mostly
young Black and Latino men.
• Illegal searches and false charges: the NYPD is illegally searching people or “tricking” people
to show them the marijuana in their pockets so they can arrest them for public possession
• Fiscal Waste: $75 Million a year being spent on these marijuana arrests, while essential social
services are being cut or eliminated.

TUESDAY APRIL 5TH IS SB 9's FIRST CHALLENGE - TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO CALL THE SENATORS LISTED BELOW AND TELL THEM TO VOTE YES ON SB9.


Public Safety Committee Senators to call:

Loni Hancock, (916) 651-4009
Joel Anderson, (916) 651-4036
Ron Calderon, (916) 651-4030
Tom Harman, (916) 651-4035
Carol Liu, (916) 651 - 4021
Curren Price, (916) 651-4026
Darrell Steinberg, (916) 651-4006