Brooklyn Community Groups, Churches Speak Out On Social Distance

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Leave spreading the word on social distancing to local churches and community groups, not the NYPD.

That was the consensus from a round table discussion hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on Wednesday. He set up the virtual meet up after reports and videos showing that black and brown New Yorkers bear the brunt of harsh social distancing enforcement by cops.

It risks stoking conflicts between communities and law enforcement much as "stop and frisk" did, he said.

"The videos that we witnessed last week send a chilling reminder that if we do not handle this correctly we can create longstanding, if not permanent disruptions between police and the communities than they're sworn to serve and protect," he said.

Better to engage in grassroots efforts to encourage social distancing, Adams said.

Andre Mitchell, founder of Man Up! Inc., agreed. Responders to 311 calls and other reports of social distancing problems don't have to be police, he said.

Anti-violence organizations such as Man Up!, as an example, have always been on the front lines, he said.

"We are the people who are trained," he said. "We are the person who are most familiar with the people in the community and we know how to engage them."

Likewise, Pastor Louis Straker Jr. said churches can go farther than enforcement.

"It’s important that we engage our communities at this time," he said.

Other community groups, a rabbi and a police captain spoke on the call.

Adams, a former police captain himself, has previously called to get NYPD out of social distancing enforcement. He calls instead for a "re-culturing" toward the idea of social distancing.

“This is utilizing credible messengers who we have in our city and our borough," he said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday announced she would look into accusations of racial bias by NYPD officers during social distancing enforcement.

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