Arrested City Councilman: This Never Would Have Happened If I Was White

Jumaane Williams and Kirsten John Foy showing the offical IDs they showed cops before their arrest. (James Thilman/Gothamist)

This morning, huddled at the top of the steps at City Hall in an effort to stay dry, City Councilman Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn) and Kirsten John Foy (Public Advocate Bill de Blasio's Community Affairs Director), held a press conference to discuss their arrests after yesterday's West Indian-American Day Parade. After being allowed to pass through two check points near the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Heights, Williams and Foy were halted and—even after they had properly identified themselves as an elected official and a high ranking government aide—an altercation ensued. "I was actually handcuffed while talking to the chief of police telling him what was going on," recalled Williams, who went on to blast the arresting officers as racially-profiling liars.

Williams and Foy maintain the police are lying about an officer being punched, and that they were detained for their own safety. "If you believe a black person can punch a police officer in this city and nothing happens to him... I defy the NYPD to find one shred of evidence of any police officer being punched in the face," said Williams. When asked if police said anything as the situation escalated, Foy quoted one police officer as saying, "It's over for you. You're done."

As the first public official on the scene, NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio described his experience with police at security checkpoints that day very differently. Coming from his home in Park Slope, de Blasio said he too went through several checkpoints, showed similar identification, and entered the frozen zones without a problem. "We were wearing the same pin that day," he said of Williams, pointing to his right lapel, "Police know what this means." He went on to chastise police for violating the rights of "exemplary New Yorkers" who had done nothing wrong, and took the opportunity to call for reforms to police procedures like stop-and-frisk.

Kirsten John Foy said he intends to use his experience to highlight long-standing problems revolving around stop-and-frisk and marijuana arrests, which disproportionately affect young black and Latino men in New York City. Both have been a divisive issue in New York for decades, and Williams is a long-time advocate for revising police practices. “I commend the police commissioner for his leadership on many issues. He has kept us safe," Foy said, but, "That leadership has not trickled down to the ranks and file leadership

Rev. Al Sharpton was rumored to attend today's presser, but didn't show up. (Maybe he was detained en route?) Here's his statement:

National Action Network condemns the improper and forceful arrests of Councilman Jumaane Williams and Kirsten John Foy, Director of Community Affairs for New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, at the West Indian Day Parade on Monday, September 5th, and are urging strong disciplinary action against the arresting officers. Both Councilman Williams and Mr. Foy are members of the National Action Network and have worked closely with the organization on issues pertaining to police misconduct and racial profiling.
According to witnesses and the victims themselves, there was unequivocally no basis for the forceful arrests of the duo who were attending the parade as advocates representing the City of New York. NAN will closely monitor any and all action taken by the NYPD in this case and will mobilize the community in protest if the disciplinary actions are not strong enough.

Still mum on the events, Mayor Bloomberg arrived as the conference came to a close and slipped past the press into City Hall before he could be asked to comment, but NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly has launched an investigation into the incident.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By James Thilman in News on September 6, 2011 4:47 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

Case of pot calling the kettle black. Tee hee. Get it?

JackBrat72

"This Never Would Have Happened If I Was White!"
YES! The 'Council-mon' is right about that!!
. . .and that's because white people are not so quickly offended by the Police. . .

When the Police ask people to move on because the sidewalk is closed to pedestrian traffic. . . well- White people usually comply- and don't end-end up getting handcuffed for the safety of all involved so that the issue at hand can be properly addressed and resolved.

Gadea

Why not give the cops a break?
All in all they go they do a great job, going where angels fear to tread.
Victims and predators live side by side, with only the NYPD to keep the peace.

ed_Ex2

I wasn't there so I have no idea what allegedly happened.

However, when the NYPD show their ID and tin to the Secret Service after
a Secret Service Captain tells his agents NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE POLICE CAN PASS, guess what?
Even the NYPD can't pass thru.

Councilman with IDs are no exceptions. In fact, it's a bit egotistical
to think they can "pass" based on their political "knighthood." Get over yourselves, you're a councilman, not the Mayor or the President.

This is not a good leadership. You don't go all over waving your city id badge around demanding entry. Leadership is leading people not setting bad examples by way of misusing your "political rank."

Guest

Sorry but the council rules the police not the other way around.

ed_Ex2

Councilmen make laws, they do not enforce them.

Guest

Yes but law enforcement must answer to elected officials. And besides no laws were being broken.

ed_Ex2

I agree. However, if an area is locked down and no one is allowed to pass and try and push your way thru, you're gonna get cuffed.

Guest

No non official could go through. Williams is an elected official representative of NYC. He also had valid ID that would exempt him from a temporary "no walk zone". No difference between him and another elected official like the Mayor. Also Ray Kelly is a non-elected civilian, he is not an MOS, would he be allowed to pass to take a shortcut to a meeting? The cops just went too far on this one.

ed_Ex2

Not if the chain of command, the captain of the police in charge of security, says no one can pass.

canofpeas

It's a problem they created, but let's continue to blame everyone else for their inability to control their sense of entitlement and for-the-camera machismo. Nearly 100 people were shot in NY this weekend, and over 90% of them were most likely black, and these narcissists can only focus on themselves. That pretty much sums up the quality of leadership in the African American community.

Guest

It more accurately sums up the intolerance and racism on the part of people like you.

canofpeas

Always mention intolerance and racism to cover your clueless ass.

Guest

Do you really deny that their is racism, discourtesy and intolerance in the NYPD?

canofpeas

Who can deny the police are all of the above? If you read their online blog you can easily draw that conclusion. But I don't think you could categorize what I had written as racist or intolerant. I saw the video- any physical provocation of the NYPD despite your color (unless you're Hasidim) and the gentleman arrested did bump the cop, always leads to arrest. Do the police arrest more people of color? Absolutely, but because that is the case it doesn't necessarily mean all people of color who are arrested would not have been if they were white.

proudliberal1947

I agree and I stated so yesterday.

Question why? wasn't his Council ID credentials Excepted?

Why? when a call was placed to the Police chief / Supervisor wasn't his ID accepted, NO, if he was WHITE he was right, all others are TRASH.

This was and is a OUT and OUT case of RACISM, the MAIN ingredient of the NYPD. Hey! remember the Black man reaching for his Wallet, and wound up with 22 rounds pumped into him because the SCUM BAGS of NYPD's finest felt AFRAID.

No, to many BS excuses, this was and is OUT and OUT RACISM and we White Inbred Trailer Trash are going to show you Uppity Black Folk we is in charge.

Cat1982

There are so many things that are stupid with this post I lost count. First, inbred trailer trash? This isnt Appalachia you freak. Second? NYPD is 52% minorities. Third? Did you watch the video- dude got in a cops face, it doesn't matter who you are. Fourth? Someone else was right, it wouldnt have happened if he was white because a white councilman would have been polite and respectful, and not had some Al Sharpton type loser with him to start trouble. Fifth? Why don't you go to this parade next year and see for yourself the violent sh*tshow that it is. Then you can come back from behind your Macbook (if you havent been shot) and talk about all the wonderful diversity you experienced while there.

Guest

You must live in a lily white enclave. Keep your head in the sand I don't think you could deal with reality.

benrubs

To all the posters asking why Council Member Williams doesn't address the violence in the community, that was the first thing he addressed if you read his full statement:

http://www.sheepsheadbites.com...