The Student Coalition Against Racial Profiling, a student-led group, asks that charges be dropped and advocates an end to profiling by the NYPD of Latino and African American youth.

In response to the arrest of nearly 40 students in the Bushwick community of Brooklyn en route to the wake of a deceased friend, City Councilman Charles Barron, members of the newly-formed Student Coalition Against Racial Profiling (SCARP), and concerned community members will meet with District Attorney Charles Hynes to ask that all charges against the students be dropped. The Coalition further requests a public apology, and that Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly commit to dialoging with the Bushwick community to end police misconduct and racial profiling.

Councilman Charles Barron and the SCARP members will hold a press conference after meeting with the District Attorney. "We are calling for District Attorney Charles Hynes to drop the charges," said Councilman Barron."These young people were unable to mourn their friend's death because of ongoing police harassment in our communities. We must demand that all the charges be dropped."

The community insists that this is only the latest example of the targeting of youth of color by the NYPD.

Local teacher Tabari Bomani stated, "This is one of the worst cases of police racially profiling innocent people in recent years and the media has largely ignored the true story. We can't allow this to be pushed under the rug."

Oona Chatterjee, Co-Director of Make the Road by Walking, a community organization supporting the student founders of SCARP and those who were arrested, said, "it has amazed me how quickly the powers that be have rushed to condemn these young people.From Police Commissioner Ray Kelly's public statements to the editorial pages of the Daily News, responsible adults have jumped to pronounce these young people guilty, with no concrete proof.Our organization believes that these young people are owed much more respect than that. When the NYPD makes a mistake, it should admit that mistake."

Press conference organizers highlight data gathered by the New York Civil Liberties Union -- in 2006, over 94% of stop and frisks by the 83rd precinct and 90% of stop and frisks citywide resulted in no summons issuance or arrest."This is how our community's young people experience the police.They are stopped regularly, and often without reason," said Chatterjee.

WHEN:   3:00 PM, TODAY, Tuesday, June 19, 2007

WHERE:   350 Jay Street, Brooklyn (in front of the office of District Attorney Charles Hynes)

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