Every year in Verona, New York, hundreds of SWAT officers gather at NYTOAC to "talk shop" with major arms dealers and Islamophobic ideologues.

Let's block it and shift resources where they belong: our communities' needs!

For a recent article by Naomi Dann of Jewish Voices for Peace + Ali Issa of WRL, Read here!



What is Stop NYTOAC?

The Stop NYTOAC coalition is formed by groups from Albany, Syracuse, and New York City, New York, to end NYTOAC and question police militarism. Endorsing organizations include (scroll down for full list):

What is NYTOAC?

For basic info, check out our research on NYTOAC here.

The New York Tactical Officers Association Conference is a SWAT training and arms vendor expo hosted indefinitely at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York. While the training is held in New York State, the scope is (inter)national, with feature presentations by agencies from Los Angeles, CA; Ft Collins, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; St. Louis, MO; Columbus, OH, and Israeli military training in the form of Krav Maga.

NYTOAC is not unique; dozens of tactical officer trainings take place all across the country every year. These conferences undoubtedly play a part in rampaging police brutality against our communities. Learn more about how police target people of color, the poor, and folks that are going through a mental health crisis here.

Islamophobia, Fear Culture, & Police Militarism

NYTOAC plays on a growing culture of fear and hate by featuring as its keynote speaker Ryan Mauro of The Clarion Project, which defends the profiling and surveillance of Muslim-Americans, absurdly attempts to link advocacy groups like the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) to terrorist activity, and has provided the NYPD with its notoriously Islamophobic “training” film The Third Jihad which drew outrage in 2012. Read CAIR's recent statement asking for transparency from NYPD and other police departments on whether they are attending NYTOAC.

NYTOAC's weapons expo features over 150 vendors showcasing their latest weapons technologies and products. This year they will range from weapons giant Northrop Grumman to teargas heavies Safariland and Combined Systems, Inc. Companies from around the world use the conference to hawk the military-grade equipment used against our communities during the 100+ SWAT deployments a day across the U.S.

2016 Media Round-Up

War Resister's own Ali Issa, National Organizer, Skanda Kadirgamar, National Committee Member, and Raul Ramos, Communications Intern, talk about police militarization and the anti-war movement with Left Jest!

"Groups Denounce Anti-Muslim 'Extremist' Speaking at Police Conference" – Buzzfeed

"Hundreds of US Cops Gather to Hear Accused Islamophobe Lecture on Islam and Terrorism" – VICE

"This Islamophic Extremist Lectured Police Officers About Islamic Extremism – The Huffinginton Post

"CAIR asks NYPD Other Police Departments to Probe Training by Islamophobe Ryan Mauro" – Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

"Shadowy Conference of Nationwide SWAT Teams to Feature Notorious Anti-Muslim Crusader" – Alternet

"Cross-Community Protest of New York Tactical Conference" – Capitol Pressroom

"CNY Police Expo Keynote Speaker Labeled 'Anti-Muslim' By Advocacy Groups" – Syracuse.com

"Local Groups Decry CNY Police Training Expo and Its Controversial Speaker" – Syracuse.com

"SWAT Conference Helps Put Military Tactics, Equipment on Our Streets (Your Letters)" – Syracuse.com

"Protesters Upset with Syracuse Police Participation in Tactical Conference" – NPR Syracuse

"Community Groups from Across NY Oppose SWAT Expo" - Common Dream

"NYS is a no SWAT Zone!" – Indy Media, Rochester

Endorsing organizations:

AF3IRM NYC

Arab American Assocation of New York (AAANY)

Black Lives Matter Upstate NY

Capital Area Against Mass Incarceration (CAAMI)

CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communitie

Civilian Solider Alliance

Equality for Flatbush

The Icarus Project

Iraq Veterans Against the War

Jewish Voice for Peace - National

Jewish Voice for Peace - Westchester

Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice

Muslim American Women's Policy Forum

New Yorkers Against Bratton

Organization for a Free Society (OFS)

Palestine Solidarity Collective

Queer Detainee Empowerment Project (QDEP)

Raha Iranian Feminist Collective

Stop LAPD Spying

Syracuse Peace Council

Veterans For Peace: Central New York

Demand #noSWATzone: Get Involved!

Would you like to join a growing coalition of community and anti-militarist groups fighting police militarism? Hit us up!

Tara Tabassi: tara [at] warresisters.org

See our petition.