Muslims respond to NYPD’s attempt to dismiss discrimination case

New Jersey Muslims who sued the NYPD over its police-run surveillance program want the case to proceed. 

The Muslims claim the program targets Muslim-Americans based solely on religion and without suspicion of wrongdoing. They also say that the program subjected them to unfair discrimination.   

The city has requested that the lawsuit be dismissed. They say the program was legal and that New Jersey's Attorney General found that no state laws were violated. 

"The NYPD has targeted innocent Americans because of their faith, including American Muslims living, working and studying in New Jersey," said Glenn Katon, co-counsel for plaintiffs and legal director of Muslim Advocates. "This lawsuit is critical to stopping the discriminatory policies employed by the NYPD, and we are confident that our claims are more than strong enough to proceed past the City's preliminary motion." 

According to Muslim Advocates, the NYPD has conducted surveillance in New Jersey of at least 20 mosques, 14 restaurants, 11 retail stores, two grade schools and two Muslim Student Associations, in addition to the individuals who own, operate, and visit those establishments.