Daniel Prude should still be alive. He deserved care, dignity, and support. Instead, Rochester Police killed him in the street for being a Black man experiencing a mental health crisis. 

After sustained pressure from Free The People ROC, NYCLU, Vocal NY, and organizers on the ground, Rochester has taken important steps forward to ensure trained mental health professionals respond to mental health calls.

Almost two years later, the fight for justice for Daniel Prude continues at the state level. 

We have to keep fighting to make sure Black communities are free from police violence — in Rochester and across New York state. 

To make that vision real and to protect Black lives, the New York state legislature must pass “Daniel’s Law” to make sure what happened to Daniel Prude never happens again. 

Add your name now. Become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of Daniel’s Law, and urge your state representatives to pass this critical legislation. 

Daniel’s Law is a transformative, common-sense piece of legislation that will make our communities safer and protect Black lives.

Here’s what Daniel Law does: 

• Makes sure mental health crises are treated as a public health issue, not a public safety threat.
• Builds a meaningful mental health response system outside of the police.
• Removes police as the default first responders to address mental health needs.
• Creates a statewide council of mental health experts dedicated to the goals of de-escalation; trauma-informed, culturally-competent care; and avoiding contacts with the criminal legal system. 

If Daniel’s Law were on the books in 2020, Daniel Prude would still be with us today. We must honor Daniel’s memory and prevent more unnecessary and tragic deaths at the hands of police. 

That’s why Color Of Change is standing with the Daniel’s Law Coalition to pass this critical, transformation legislation. 

Add your name now to demand your state representative pass Daniel’s Law to keep our communities safe. 

NOTE: Street address is required to correctly identify and contact your NY State Assemblymember and State Senator. This information will not be made public. 

Here is the Petition:

I'm standing with the Daniel's Law Coalition to demand justice for Daniel Prude by passing "Daniel's Law." With “Daniel’s Law,” the legislature has an opportunity to meet this moment with a bold new vision for community safety that starts with removing police as the default solution to address mental health needs.

Mental health professionals should respond to mental health calls. One in four killings by police involves someone with a mental health issue, and police are not equipped to handle mental health calls. NY must pass Daniel's Law fully-fund a crisis intervention and mental health responders program to handle calls involving family disputes, children, and mental health emergencies.

New York is in desperate need of meaningful action and visionary leadership that meets the gravity of this moment. What happened to Daniel Prude in Rochester, NY should never happen to anyone else again.

The time for bold leadership is now, and Daniel's Law is an important first step to improving public safety and keep Black New Yorkers safe.

We must honor Daniel’s memory and prevent more unnecessary and tragic deaths at the hands of police. I'm calling on you to pass Daniel's Law this session.