18 MILLION RISING

Props to Caaav: Organizing Asian Communities and their allies for turning out in numbers to support Kang Wong, who is being charged for jaywalking, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and disorderly conduct after being beaten by the NYPD.

The DA did not put his case on the docket today but a new hearing will be scheduled soon. CAAAV’s statement:

CAAAV has been working on police accountability for nearly two decades and most recently helped pass the Community Safety Act with Communities United for Police Reform. We are terribly saddened by what happened to Mr. Wong – a stop for jaywalking that resulted in a person being injured. That should have never happened. But, most importantly, we were disappointed to hear that charges were even brought upon Mr. Wong. Although his case wasn’t on the docket today and the family may have to return for a hearing, we really believe that the D.A. will do the right thing and dismiss all charges against Mr. Wong. We have the community behind us to support that belief.

It is no coincidence that with the return of Police Commissioner Bratton that there have been several policing polices quickly implemented without evaluation on its impact on New Yorkers. In a city where jaywalking has become part of the culture for 8.3 million people, jaywalking tickets were given without any community notice. Two weeks ago on a Monday, homeless New Yorkers were going to be kicked off the subways at 3am for commuters in the coldest winter we’ve experienced in years. Arrests for panhandling have shot up dramatically from January until March. Commissioner Bratton’s Broken Windows theory policing needs to be evaluated for its harm rather than benefit of our communities – poor, immigrant, people of color, queer, and homeless. The theory takes punitive measures to address small offenses, which results in preventing thousands from being able to access services, housing, and basic needs for survival.

CAAAV wants to acknowledge and thank all of the endorses and organizations who came to support the Wong Family – organizations who have been fighting for NYPD reform for years and are members of Communities United for Police Reform – FIERCE!, Center for Constitutional Rights, Arab American Association of NY, Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), FIERCE!, Make the Road NY, Picture the Homeless, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and VOCAL-NY.

We hope and believe the D.A. will dismiss all charges against Mr. Wong and that this incident opens up a dialogue for further discussion on policing practices.

Cathy Dang
Executive Director
CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities