This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
On July 24, 2019, a group of 27 African-American leaders from New York City and beyond issued a joint statement condemning the recent verbal attacks and water dousing of police officers in Harlem and Brooklyn.
The statement, signed by prominent figures such as Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President, and Ursula Burns, Chairwoman and CEO of Veon Ltd., expressed the group's deep concern over the incidents.
The signatories acknowledged the progress made by the New York Police Department in reducing violent crime and homicides, as well as the meaningful reduction in practices deemed unacceptable by the African-American community, such as 'stop and frisk' and racial profiling.
However, they also emphasized the need for continued efforts to improve police-community relations and to address the lingering wounds of the past, including the death of Eric Garner.
The statement concluded by urging the public to show respect to police officers when they are lawfully doing their job, in exchange for the officers' dedication to serving and protecting the community.
Signatories included:
- Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President
- Ronald E. Blaylock, Founder and Managing Partner, GenNx360 Capital Partners
- Ursula Burns, Chairwoman and CEO, Veon Ltd.
- Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and Managing Director, General Catalyst
- Edith Cooper, Senior Director, Goldman Sachs
- W. Don Cornwell, Founder and CEO, Granite Broadcasting Corporation
- Vicki Fuller, Former Chief Investment Officer, New York State Common Retirement Fund
- Charles J. Hamilton Jr., Senior Counsel, Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, L.L.P.
- Melissa James, Vice Chairwoman, Morgan Stanley
- David R. Jones, Co-Founder and CEO, Castle Oak Securities, L.P.
- Vernon E. Jordan Jr., Senior Managing Director, Lazard, and Senior Counsel, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
- Debra L. Lee, Chairwoman and CEO Emeritus, BET Networks
- Edward Lewis, Founder and CEO Emeritus, Essence Magazine
- William M. Lewis Jr., Co-Chairman, Investment Banking, Lazard
- Tracy V. Maitland, President, Advent Capital Management, L.L.C.
- Raymond J. McGuire, Vice Chairman, Citigroup
- Scott Mills, President, BET Networks
- Rusty O'Kelley, Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates
- Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and Managing Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners
- Clarence Otis Jr., Former CEO, Darden Restaurants
- Richard Parsons, Chairman of the Board, Rockefeller Foundation
- Charles Phillips, CEO, Infor
- Jonelle Procope, President and CEO, Apollo Theater
- Frederick O. Terrell, Former Executive Vice Chairman, Investment Banking/Capital Markets, Credit Suisse
- Dennis M. Walcott, President/CEO, Queens Public Library, and Former New York City Schools Chancellor
- Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation
- Christopher J. Williams, Chairman and CEO, The Williams Capital Group, L.P.
