Don't Like NYPD's Policing? Go Vote, Says Community Groups

New York City community groups are launching a large grassroots voter registration campaign ahead of this year's mayoral election. The issue? The controversial police practice known as "stop and frisk" and other policing issues in minority communities across the five boroughs.

"One of the ways to empower communities to raise their voices around the issues that are critical for them are through voter registration,” said Priscilla Gonzalez, Director for Outreach with Communities United for Police Reform.

The coalition wants to register 5,000 voters ahead of this year's mayoral election.

Gonzalez said outreach efforts will target youth and minority populations that generally do not vote in local elections, "We'll be on the streets, in festivals, at organized events tabling.”

Gonzalez says the campaign isn't planning to support any one candidate. Instead, they're looking to educate voters about the candidates' positions. The group is hosting a mayoral forum on public safety Thursday at the Riverside Church in Harlem.