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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tanesha Grant, Executive Director of Parent Supporting Parents New York, on NYPD's Gang Database and DNA Collection
4:31:38
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99 sec
Tanesha Grant, Executive Director of Parent Supporting Parents New York, expressed strong support for Intro 798 and Intro 125, criticizing the NYPD's gang database as a tool for racial profiling and the practice of collecting DNA from minors. She emphasized the disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities and called for immediate cessation of these practices.
- Highlighted the racial disparity in the gang database, noting it's 95% Black and Brown people
- Criticized the NYPD's focus on labeling youth as "gangbangers" instead of genuinely addressing public safety
- Called for reallocation of resources from policing to community support and opportunities for youth
Tanesha Grant
4:31:38
Hello.
4:31:39
Thank you for this.
4:31:42
My name is Tanisha Grant, and I am the executive director of Parent Support and Parents New York.
4:31:48
Thank you, chair Salaam, and Public Safety Committee for this important hearing.
4:31:52
We fully support Intro seven ninety eight and Intro one twenty five.
4:31:56
The gang database has been a way for NYPD to racially profile and criminalize our children and young people.
4:32:02
If it wasn't, it wouldn't be 95% black and brown people on it.
4:32:07
As council member Stevens mentioned, we have many gangs of different ethnic groups, yet all resources are focused on our communities, which leads a forced neck narrative about our youth.
4:32:18
We are very pleased that the New York City council is trying to address these racially systemic issues that have been a curse on our communities for decades.
4:32:27
The NYPD aren't really concerned about public safety.
4:32:31
They are concerned about locking up our children and labeling them as gangbangers.
4:32:36
I hear this talk about at risk youth, but the community affairs department would send to NYPD that is supposed to engage with our youth and communities have a very low budget.
4:32:45
It is time that the gang database and taking DNA from minors be stopped immediately.
4:32:50
We also need to talk about how guns get into our communities in the first place.
4:32:54
Oftentimes, guns and gangs are in the same sentence.
4:32:58
The unlawful over policing and criminalization of black youth has taken a severe toll on our youth's mental health.
4:33:05
We must stop the overfunding of the police and start really putting resources and real opportunities into our community.
4:33:13
I will send the rest of my testimony, you know, to you.
4:33:17
Thank you so much.