Stop & Frisk declared unconstitutional

I applaud the Court's decision in Floyd v. City of New York.  It reminds the NYPD that it, too, must follow the law.  Indeed, the Constitution is the highest law in our country, yet a law officers too often violate without consequence.

At the least, Blacks & Latinos (not to mention Muslims) cannot be stopped by police for any reason other than articulable, reasonable suspicion that they are engaged in criminal activity.  As the Court held, "furtive movements," "looking nervous," walking or standing in a "high crime neighborhood," without more, is NOT a basis for the police to stop someone.

We can expect from this decision that the widespread stopping of Blacks & Latinos will be sharpely cut.  Now the harder work will begin to challenge those stops in which police state a reason, but are simply lying or "enhancing" about what is really going on.

See the Press release below on the Court's decision:

http://ccrjustice.org/newsroom/press-releases/judge-rules-floyd-case