"As elected officials representing the neighborhoods surrounding the Penn Station complex, we write to express our outrage regarding recent reporting that Amtrak, through the Amtrak Police, has initiated an organized arrest campaign at a men's bathroom at Penn Station targeting members of the LGBTQ community using undercover plainclothes police officers, wrote Congressmember Jerry Nadler, State Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Liz Krueger, and Assemblymember Tony Simone."
"The Sept. 26 letter to Richard Harris, Amtrak's president, notes that Amtrak Police made 23 arrests for public lewdness' at Penn Station in June 2025 and is now making up to 20 such arrests per day. The reporting also indicates that many of these charges have been ultimately dropped but only after LGBTQ New Yorkers have been handcuffed and arrested."
"In a separate Sept. 25 letter, Councilmember Erik Bottcher, who represents a Manhattan district that includes Penn Station, and Councilmember Tiffany Caban, who represents a Queens district, also wrote to Harris calling on Amtrak to immediately cease these discriminatory policing practices. We further request a written explanation of how these arrests have been conducted, how many people have been affected, and what safeguards Amtrak will put in place to prevent further violations of civil rights."
Nearly 200 men were arrested since early June for lewdness in a Penn Station men's bathroom, and as many as 20 were sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible deportation. Amtrak Police carried out an organized campaign using undercover plainclothes officers, with 23 arrests in June and up to 20 arrests per day thereafter. Many charges have been dropped after handcuffs and arrests. Congressional and state lawmakers including Jerry Nadler, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, and Tony Simone demanded explanations from Amtrak president Richard Harris. City Councilmembers Erik Bottcher and Tiffany Caban called for an immediate end to discriminatory policing and requested written details and safeguards.
Read at gaycitynews.com
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