Black Lives Matter Greater NY released a statement on Oct. 19 following a separate recent announcement by the NYPD regarding the launch of a policing commission in conjunction with the Robin Hood Foundation and the NY Urban League. The title of the press release was,”New York State Exemplifies Why Activists and Young Black Don’t Trust Democrats.”

“In the wake of the George Floyd murder, while the country was experiencing an uprising, Black Lives Matter Greater NY negotiated with Governor Cuomo’s office to have elements of our legislative package included in his “Say Their Names Act,” the statement read. “In addition to these elements the Governor’s office demanded that Mayor De Blasio convene a commission to ‘Re-Imagine’ policing in NYC.”

BLM Greater NY went on to say that several weeks ago, the group released a statement demanding that the Mayor convene the new commission composed of NYC grassroots activists, clergy, politicians, experts and the NYPD. “We had never agreed to an open discussion with the NYPD prior to that point. Today [Oct. 13], the Mayor’s office convened the commission headed by the NYPD, the Robin Hood Foundation and the NY Urban League,” the statement continued.

“With all due respect to these organizations they are not the ones who led the charge to force the impending changes. It was the Black Lives Matter activists in the streets being pepper sprayed, tear gassed, beaten and arrested the last five years and particularly in the last five months.”

BLM Great NY said that these organizations [Robin Hood Foundation and NY Urban League] have working relationships with the governor’s office and the mayor’s office. They credited the organizations for achieving much. However, they said phrases like “Defund The Police,” and “Abolish The Police” are not found on the websites of these two organizations.

“The people in the streets and the organizations that have proposed their own legislation have been left out of the governor’s and mayor’s commission, thus rendering it a political farce that will fail to bring about that radical change that the city and the country need,” the statement continued. “The fact that this commission is announcing these so abruptly proves that they do not want true community participation. How can people prepare testimonies, and ensure that the community comes out in full force with such short notice?”

BLM Greater NY said it was a trick that the mayor had previously employed when they said BLM Greater NY had forced the City to convene a commission to discuss monuments in NYC. “All of the community hearings were held at 9 a.m. during the workweek. The commission submitted recommendations, but the mayor had the final say,” the statement continued.

BLM Greater NY said that the City chose to remove only one statue in 2018, and they allege that the City only recently agreed to remove another due to the pressure arising from this summer’s protests, after the murder of George Floyd. The group said their concern was that the commission will, once again, be devoid of meaningful community input and substantive community representation from the organizations who fight on the front lines of the movement.

“Why is this commission not investing in commercials and advertising that would render an adequate representation of our viewpoints?” the group asked. “This is backroom politics at its best, and it breeds distrust, and that is why we have a disdain for the Democrats, as well as, the Republicans,” they said. “We understand that Democrats do not want true liberation of Black people and other oppressed groups, and only seek to pacify us with cosmetic changes. This is why many activists and young Black people will not vote in the Presidential election. It is because the Democrats continuously give us the political switcheroo.”

The statement was signed by Hawk Newsome, chairman and co-founder, Black Lives Matter Greater New York, and Chivona Newsome, co-founder, Black Lives Matter Greater New York.