Council Member Williams’ Statement Regarding Citywide Shootings On National Night Out

BROOKLYN, NY, August 8, 2012: Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Brooklyn), co-chair of the Task Force to Combat Gun Violence, released the following statement in response to gun violence incidents that took place last night citywide. This includes a triple shooting at the Agnes Haywood Playground in Gun Hill, with all three victims being teenagers. In East Flatbush, three men were shot on East 46th Street. In Harlem, three people were hit on Frederick Douglass Boulevard while another was shot on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. In East New York, one man was hit in the torso on Atlantic Avenue. These shootings took place on the day, National Night Out, an annual anti-crime event to advance police-community relations, was celebrated . “The madness of this shooting spree knows no bounds; even National Night Out is not a timeout from gun violence. Once again, there seems to be no corner of this city right now that is truly safe from guns and the young men who are foolishly and brazenly brandishing them, as if this is a video game. These shooters are not only providing excuses for the NYPD’s ineffective but emotionally satisfying stop, question and frisk policy, they are stealing lives. Our community must demand greater accountability from our own, and we must advance policing strategies that strengthen neighborhood relations with the NYPD, furthering the great work done by efforts like National Night Out. In addition, government needs to support efforts like CeaseFire to fully address this crisis. I am for additional police on the ground and better policing strategies, but the NYPD cannot do it alone. “My prayers for recovery go to the victims and their families of last night’s shootings. We all must assure them that our commitment to reducing gun violence has never been more resolute. We can and will achieve better policing and safer streets for all New Yorkers.”