One tactic that we and our partners often use to hold power accountable has a few different names. Call Blast, Phone Zap, or otherwise, it goes like this: We mobilize our bases in a specific time period to flood the targeted person with calls, messages, @s—whatever we can to disrupt business as usual and show we’re watching. Together, we send a louder, stronger message. Sometimes we need to repeat our call blasts over multiple days, weeks, or even months, to show we won’t let up. These Blasts (or Zaps) are a way to quickly mobilize with minimal coordination—you can make calls wherever you are, whenever you’re able, within the given time-frame!
Last month, we worked with the Justice Committee (JC) on a call blast targeting Judge Danny K. Chun, whose inaction was stalling the Civilian Complaint Review Board’s (CCRB) disciplinary trial for NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs, who murdered Delrawn Small over 6 years ago. To pressure Chun, we collectively made 132 calls to his office on two separate days (one week apart). About two weeks after that, Chun finally ruled to unseal necessary documents, after 15 months of silence, which allowed the CCRB case to move forward. In other words, the call blast worked! One small but necessary step in the struggle for justice for Delrawn.
This week, JC is ramping up an effort with the family of Kawaski Trawick, a Black gay man who was killed by NYPD Officers Brendan Thompson and Herbert Davis while he was cooking in his home, just 112 seconds after they illegally entered his apartment in 2019. While the CCRB trial has been set for April 24th since last year, police union lawyers are now making a last-ditch attempt to get Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Sewell to dismiss the charges, just weeks before. This ploy is not only a dirty trick but adds even more stress and uncertainty for Kawaski’s parents, who need to travel to NYC for the trial.
To support Kawaski’s family, we’re holding a call blast this Thursday, March 23rd, to demand that Mayor Adams and Commissioner Sewell reject the cop unions’ ploy to block discipline for Thompson and Davis. They should be fired, and so far 40 NYC & NYS elected officials have joined the call to ensure this trial moves forward without interference.
Let’s harness our collective power and push Adams to do the right thing: Say no to the PBA and let the trial start on April 24th. Sign up here for a text reminder & call script for Thursday, March 23rd.
In solidarity,
SURJ NYC