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GUARDIANS ASSOCIATION, N Y P D AND THEIR COUNSEL BONITA E. ZELMAN, ESQ.
The GUARDIANS ASSOCIATION'S counsel BONITA E. ZELMAN filed a federal discrimination complaint on behalf of three minority women police officers against the New York Police Department, charging that the “imus virus” has now spread and infected the rank and file. The Guardians Association and their counsel Ms. Zelman spoke out against the denigration and marginalization of African American women and Latina Police Officers who were targeted and demeaned at a precinct roll call and called “hos” and “nappy headed hos” by their sergeant and then by a male cop who followed suit. The Guardians Association held a press conference on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 1:00p.m., in front of Police Headquarters at One Police Plaza. The firestorm of controversy generated by talk show host Don Imus when he went on the air and called the Rutgers University women’s basketball players “nappy headed ho’s” has been adopted by some members of the infamous 70th Police Precinct where Haitian immigrant Abner Louima was brutally tortured and violated by members of that precinct. Attorney Zelman, who has represented African American and Hispanic victims of discrimination for over three decades, said, “There is much concern about the effect language like this has on our women police officers, particularly women of color trying to make their way in the largely white male bureaucracy of a Police Department." The Guardians Association will not stand for the dehumanization of minority women police officers by the ingrained NYPD culture. The fight against negative depiction of women, and particularly African American women is ongoing. Why should black or any other female officer be negatively impacted by today's society? The three female Police Officers, who were strong enough to come forward were present at the Press Conference. On Sunday, April 15, 2007, the officers, while performing duty in the 70th Precinct, were subjected to racist and sexist insults when they were addressed by their Sergeant who called them “Ho’s” and then by a male Police Officer who called them “Nappy Headed Ho’s.” The women felt violated, hurt and humiliated and just could not believe they could hear something like that and hear it in a place where they work. Guardians President Victor Swinton stated, "This language should not be tolerated within the New York City Police Department” and demanded swift and harsh discipline of these individuals who utter these disgusting words. The membership must continue to support these courageous women in their quest for JUSTICE!
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