I oppose:
Racial profiling, including police surveillance and harassment of Muslims, South Asians or Arabs, in the name of fighting terrorism.
Police brutality and lawlessness. New York needs a statewide Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), with the power to investigate and prosecute police misconduct.
Legal immunity for District Attorneys who participate in malicious and illegal prosecutions and the Judges who preside over these courtroom farces. District Attorneys and Judges should be subject to civil and criminal accountability for their behavior, based upon the NY State Constitution and the 1865 Civil Rights Act, which outlaws official misconduct under the color of law.
The death penalty, which again and again is demonstrated to be disproportionately applied to poor people of color, under courtroom circumstances which are often unjust. Ban the death penalty in NY State NOW and forever.
The failure of the State of New York to honor in the fullest all treaty rights of the state's indigenous peoples communities. Native Americans need sustainable economic development plans, not casinos!
The punitive use of Children's Protective Services and other child welfare agencies to target poor and minority families, leading to child removal and the criminalization of parents, with little or no judicial oversight or due process.
Interference with women's right to reproductive freedom. Require all health insurance plans to cover contraception and abortion.
Lax investigation and prosecution of domestic violence and acts of violence and discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgendered people. Amend New York's anti-discrimination law to cover sexual orientation.
Crowded, brutal prison conditions where inmates are provided little or no opportunity to gain educational or vocational skills to rebuild their lives, as called for under the NY State Criminal Code.
The arcane Rockefeller Drug Laws, which stipulate long mandatory prison sentences for small-time drug possession.
The so-called war on recreational drug use. Legalize marijuana. Tax weed like alcohol and cigarettes. Decriminalize all drug possession for personal use. Substantially increase substance abuse rehabilitation resources.
These are but a few of the Popular Democracy agendas, often opposed or neglected by the Democratic and Republican Parties, that Stanley Aronowitz and the Green Party will bring to the political front stage in 2002. We need your input and support.
