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New Yorkers Tell Bustle How Stop-and-Frisk Impacts Their Lives
On Monday, a federal judge found that the NYPD's unpopular stop-and-frisk policy, which allows officers to detain and search citizens without a warrant, is a violation of a citizens' constitutional rights.
This is not only a huge victory for opponents of the policy, but for the millions of New Yorkers that have been stopped and frisked between 2004 and 2012.
Bustle went to one of the most targeted areas in NYC, East Harlem, to ask New Yorkers about their experiences with the policy.
Almost all the East Harlem residents approached had an experience with the policy, but tellingly, only a few were willing to share their story. A bleak theme emerged as I spoke with the residents: stop-and-frisk is just a normal part of their day.
East Harlem Residents Know Stop-And-Frisk All Too Well
On Monday, a federal judge found that the NYPD's unpopular stop-and-frisk policy, which allows officers to detain and search citizens without a warrant, is a violation of a citizens' constitutional rights.
This is not only a huge victory for opponents of the policy, but for the millions of New Yorkers that have been stopped and frisked between 2004 and 2012.
Bustle went to one of the most targeted areas in NYC, East Harlem, to ask New Yorkers about their experiences with the policy.
Almost all the East Harlem residents approached had an experience with the policy, but tellingly, only a few were willing to share their story. A bleak theme emerged as I spoke with the residents: stop-and-frisk is just a normal part of their day.
"I Felt Belittled. I Was Surprised And Shocked To Be Honest."
Kevin, 21, was playing dominoes with his friends outside of his apartment building when a group of officers aggressively approached them. "The manner in which they spoke to us was extremely disrespectful. I wouldn't want to repeat it in the office. I've never been disrespected by anybody like that."
"It's Typical. There's Nothing New About That."
Chris, 21, says he hopes that now, some cops will change how they approach citizens on the streets. He recalled being stopped: "I was just walking...I'm not going to say this goes for every cop but some cops they always start off aggressive and they just take advantage...Not exactly sure how it should go but they should come to you more respectively and then give you the reason why you are being stopped. Most of the time they don't tell you why you are being stopped. They just approach you."
"It's Mandatory Around Here."
Malcom explained that for him and his friends, stop-and-frisk has become a fact of life. As a 37-year-old boxer, he's become accustomed to being stopped by the cops on an almost daily basis. (He asked not to be photographed, but was wrapping his hands to box when we spoke.)
"There are good cops and dirty cops. If you say something they don't like, they will take you in and put you through the system... It's their word against mine...It sounds fictional. It sounds like a movie but it's real."
(Image:Getty)
