The Muslim community is praising the New York Police Department’s decision to

The Muslim community is praising the New York Police Department’s decision to disband a special unit that conducted widespread surveillance of the city’s Muslim residents. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner William J. Bratton are receiving accolades from community organizations and civil rights groups for closing the NYPD’s Demographics Unit.

Bill de Blasio during his election campaign last year had expressed reservations about the program, promising to review it if elected. During a roundtable with the city’s community and ethnic media last month, the mayor had indicated that the program was being reviewed and that changes were being considered. “You don’t have to break the law to enforce the law,” de Blasio had told the journalists at City Hall on March 27.

In interviews with Voices of NY, Muslim community leaders expressed their gratitude to the mayor for honoring his words.

http://www.voicesofny.org/2014/04/shutdown-of-nypd-surveillance-unit-welcomed/?utm_source=Voices+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3df4541e9e-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ffee07af47-3df4541e9e-32371745