For Immediate Release: March 10, 2020
Contact: Reynolds Graves rgraves@skdknick.com313.205.8675
Criminal Justice Advocates Respond
to Misleading NYC PBA Ad
NEW YORK – New Yorkers United for Justice Chief Strategist Khalil A. Cumberbatch, a formerly incarcerated New Yorker, issued the following statement in response to a radio ad featuring the President of the Police Benevolent Association of New York City, Pat Lynch.
In the ad, Lynch details a man’s journey in and out of incarceration and falsely claims that the man was most recently released earlier this year under the new bail reform law.
“Mr. Lynch is unfortunately choosing to join some of his colleagues in law enforcement that are spreading fear throughout the communities that their members work hard to protect. By wrongfully labeling the criminal justice reform laws as a part of a ‘pro-criminal’ agenda that let Robert Williams out of police custody as he awaits trial, Mr. Lynch is not only creating anxiety and fear among the public, but also undermining the justice system as a whole. The state of New York took a thoughtful approach when creating these impactful pre-trial reforms, and Mr. Lynch has decided to play politics in an effort to diminish these laws that promote public safety and fairness in the criminal justice system. For Mr. Lynch to be encouraging members of the public to contact their legislators and voice their opposition – with his incorrect facts – he is only continuing the misinformation being spread about the ongoing efforts to reform New York’s outdated criminal justice system.
“New Yorkers United for Justice will continue our efforts to preserve the reforms in place and to change bad laws that victimize whole communities while hindering the courts and the public. We must be able to separate good policing and community safety from bad actors who undermine public trust, and we invite Mr. Lynch to have an honest conversation rooted in facts, not disinformation and hysteria rooted in politics.”
**Khalil A. Cumberbatch is available for interviews to discuss NYUJ’s efforts to reform the criminal justice system in New York**