Forty-one people were arrested March 24 in front of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s New York City office during a protest over proposed cuts to CUNY. Those arrested included students, faculty, staff and Councilmembers Inez Barron and I. Daneek Miller. They participated in a die-in, a tactic used by protesters in which they lie down on the ground and act dead. New York Police Department officers warned the protesters to not block the sidewalk before arresting them. The protest, organized by the Professional Staff Congress, the union representing more than 25,000 professors and staff, happened just before the April 1 deadline for a new budget from lawmakers in Albany. Governor Cuomo, in…
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QC student alleges attack by NYPD
On Monday Jan. 20, Queens College student, Alejandro Rodriguez was allegedly attacked by NYPD officers in Elmhurst, Queens. Two different cell phone videos display, in parts, what occurred. The first video shows Rodriguez, 22, emotional and accusing the officers of calling him a “little punk.” One of the officers responds by saying, “I’m giving you a chance,” and tells Rodriguez to leave the premises. The second video shows Rodriguez with his arms up and backing away from the officers when he is attacked. Despite the video evidence being ambiguous, the second cellphone clip does show Rodriguez with his hands up and backing away from officers, who then rush to him,…
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The impact of surveillance on Muslims at Queens College
The college campus is an environment where students, the vast majority of whom are young, are allowed to express themselves and develop their minds. Queens College is a prime example as the diversity among students strengthens such expression. However, a report authored and researched by Diala Shamas and Nermeen Arastu shows the extent of surveillance the New York Police Department has upon the Muslim population not only in New York City, but in the CUNY system as well. The report, “Mapping Muslims: NYPD Spying and Its Impact on American Muslims,” details how post-Sept. 11, the NYPD has closely observed Muslims in their daily activities for fear of “terrorism.” The means…
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As Stop and Frisk Trial Continues, New Report Details Impact of Marijuana Arrests
“Bogus.” Bogus is the word the New York Police Department used in response to the numerous studies and reports that Queens College sociologist Harry Levine has made. His recent report, “One Million Police Hours: Making 440,000 Marijuana Possession Arrests in New York City, 2002-2012,” details how much time and energy is invested by the NYPD on marijuana arrests. These numbers include the costs of the controversial stop and frisk policy. The report, which indicates that more than one million police hours have been invested into marijuana arrests, comes as Floyd v. City of New York examines the legality of stop and frisk. This is “the equivalent of having 31 police…
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Climate of fear still exists as new report details extent of NYPD surveillance program
Two years ago, The Associated Press released numerous stories of the New York Police Department’s surveillance of Muslims and controversy erupted as to whether the NYPD could be trusted as a result of this evidence made public. A report by a coalition of civil liberty groups has detailed the impact of the surveillance program by the NYPD on Muslims not only after the 2011 AP reports, but after Sept. 11 as well. The report, “Mapping Muslims: NYPD Spying and its Impact on American Muslims,” was released in February and examines how the NYPD sent informants to mosques, organized groups and even the CUNY schools, to spy on Muslims. The report…
