Coalition Of Immigrants Alleges Discrimination By NYPD
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A coalition of immigrants has filed a lawsuit against the New York City Police Department for alleged discrimination against immigrant New Yorkers.
The federal complaint alleges that domestic violence and crime victims sought police assistance but were unable to access services because they were not provided with interpreters.
New York City has an official policy that says interpreters must be made available by city agencies, but Amy Taylor, the attorney representing the victims, said they were repeatedly denied.
"When our clients requested someone speak to them in Spanish, they were told, 'This is America. You must speak English. No Spanish. Only English,'" Taylor said. "They were ridiculed, mocked and retraumatized."
A New York City Law Department spokesman said they would review the latest complaint.