17171. Factsheet: The NYPD Muslim Surveillance and Mapping Program
- Author:
- Bridge Initiative Team
- Publication Date:
- 05-2020
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
- Abstract:
- The New York Police Department’s (NYPD) Muslim Surveillance and Mapping Program began under Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2001 and monitored Muslim communities in New York City and nearby states until 2014. A secret unit within the program called the Demographics Unit sent informants into mosques, Muslim student groups, and Muslim-owned businesses to gather information on 28 “ancestries of interest.” The program never generated a lead for law enforcement, faced repeated challenges in court, and was met with accusations of religious and racial profiling. The program also sowed anxiety, suspicion, and distrust of law enforcement within Muslim communities.
- Topic:
- Law Enforcement, Surveillance, War on Terror, Police, NYPD, and Muslims
- Political Geography:
- New York, North America, and United States of America