Brooklyn, NY – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) released the following statement after a federal court ruled that the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) stop and frisk program is unconstitutional:

“Black and Latino communities throughout New York City have long understood that the NYPD stop and frisk program is out-of-control.  We are gratified that a federal court has now confirmed that deeply-held sentiment.

Stop and frisk is an unjustified police tactic and unconscionable form of racial profiling.  A court has now confirmed it to be an unconstitutional violation of the rights of innocent, law-abiding New Yorkers.  The Mayor and Police Commissioner should stop their blind defense of these blatantly unfair police encounters and begin to respect the rights of everyone regardless of color.”