Black Lives Matter of Greater New York proposes new law to create police accountability, address ‘blue wall of silence’

Members of the Black Lives Matter of Greater New York stood with local politicians and community activists to propose a new bill to promote more police accountability

News 12 Staff

Apr 20, 2021, 10:04 AM

Updated 1,326 days ago

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Members of the Black Lives Matter of Greater New York stood with local politicians and community activists to propose a new bill to promote more police accountability.
The proposed legislation called the “Blue Wall Law” is the Black Lives Matter of Greater New York’s top legislative priority.
Speakers Tuesday say it will hold police accountable from falsifying reports.
If it becomes a law, an eyewitness account or video evidence of an incident can lead to prosecution and prison time even if a police report contradicts what happened.
For example, if an officer used a banned chokehold, but didn’t include it in the report and evidence comes out that a chokehold was used, the law would require them to be prosecuted.
Activists say they want to destroy what they feel is a nationwide code known as the “blue wall of silence,” a code they say has been used for generations by officers to cover for other officers and lie on reports.
Founders of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York say laws like this are key to getting to the core of police misconduct and directly addresses that “blue wall of silence.”
The co-founders of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York say in part: “This thin blue line has got to go. The them against us mentality can no longer be tolerated. It is not law enforcement against the public because their job is to protect and serve the public.”
They also contend that if the law is enacted, officers will do the right thing on their own.