PEOPLES’ JUSTICE, a coalition of grassroots organizations that have joined forces to demand police accountability, is calling on ALL New Yorkers to write the judges who are deciding whether to move the trial out of Queens. Let them know that the trial should stay in Queens and that they can trust Queens  residents to make sure that justice is served!

As Queens District Attorney Richard Brown has said, “There’s no reason to believe that a fair and impartial jury could not be found amongst the 2.3 million people here in Queens. This is a case that occurred here in Queens and it should, in my opinion, be tried by a jury representative of the diversity of Queens.”

Write the judges today! Send a letter or email to: 

Presiding Justice A. Gail Prudenti
Supreme Court, State of New York
Appellate Division, Second Departme
45 Monroe Place
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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LETTER TEMPLATE: 

Dear Honorable Judge Prudenti,

As a resident of New York City, I’m writing to ask that you deny the change of venue motion filed by the attorneys who are representing the police officers involved in the death of Sean Bell.

I believe, as does Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, that Queens residents can be trusted to be fair, impartial, and to carefully weigh all the evidence presented during the trial. It is difficult to believe that out of millions of Queens residents, we could not find 12 who would be able to competently serve on a jury.

The NYPD has a mission to serve and protect New York City residents—and when an incident occurs, by the same token, it should be local residents who get to decide what the outcome should be.

The attorneys for the officers claim that their clients could not possibly have a fair trial if it remained in Queens County – I believe that it would be incredibly unfair and unjust to have the trial in any place except Queens. Sean Bell was from the Queens community, the incident happened in Queens, and it should be Queens residents who serve on the jury and mete out justice, whatever that may be. I hope that you decide, in the end, that the trial should remain in Queens and deny the change of venue motion.

Sincerely,

[insert your name]

IF YOU ♥NY TRUST NYers!