New Yorkers rallied outside of City Hall Monday to call on the City Council to pass a new legislation that would require the NYPD to provide more transparency in its stopping practices.  

Advocates and supporters of the How Many Stops Act say that the two bills would make the NYPD’s process of who they choose to stop and why they choose to stop more accessible to the average New Yorker.  

The parents of the late Antonio Williams, who was killed in September 2019 during a confrontation that also led to the death of Officer Brian Mulkeen, joined advocates at today’s rally.  

“So many times people are killed by the police… and it’s their word against nobody, because nobody is speaking for the victim,” said Shawn Williams, father of Antonio.  

Investigators say that Antonio Williams was stopped by plainclothes officers who believed he was suspicious, leading to the altercation. Williams’ parents say their son would still be alive if the laws being supported today were in place back then. 

The second part of the How Many Stops Act would require the NYPD to report refusals from someone if they deny officers the ability to perform a search. These reports would include where the encounter took place, details of who was stopped and why, and if they were detained by officers.  

Council Member Alexa Aviles, a co-sponsor of the act, says it would require the NYPD to do what other agencies are already required to do.  

“Every city agency has to report its activities,” said Aviles. “Nonprofits report every single person they touch. How can we assess a job that is being performed if we have no data?”