Faizan Akram

August 3rd, 2025 Civil Rights Division U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530 Re: Civil Rights Complaint – Harassment and Retaliation My name is and I am the Executive Director of of Peekskill, a nonprofit organization that has faithfully served the Peekskill community for over two decades. The provides housing assistance, community outreach, youth programming, and essential services to low-income families, seniors, and at-risk youth. Our organization has consistently worked with civic leaders from both political parties and has been recognized and honored by Republican and Democratic Mayors alike for our dedication to the community. Despite this longstanding history of positive community service and recognition, I and the FRC have recently become targets of an escalating campaign of harassment, intimidation, and interference. These actions appear to be politically motivated and racially discriminatory, arising after we raised concerns about unfair treatment by certain officials within the City of Peekskill. Our engagement with city departments—especially during the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant process—was met with irregular and obstructive actions, including misleading instructions, unfair additional requirements, and inconsistent treatment compared to non-Blackled organizations. During the DRI process, initially invited and encouraged our participation. However, after we submitted three hard copies of our application as required, later demanded that we scan and resubmit the same documents electronically, despite this requirement never being stated in the official instructions. This obstructive and inconsistent behavior contrasted with the experience of other applicants and created unnecessary burdens for our organization. We believe that voicing concerns about these irregularities and pushing back against discriminatory actions triggered retaliation from within city administration. Since that time, the harassment has escalated beyond bureaucratic interference. We have experienced constant spam calls, fraudulent messages, impersonation attempts, and intimidation in public spaces. These actions coincide with key moments when we have opposed unfair practices or sought transparency from city officials, suggesting a deliberate effort to target and silence us. Our main hotline has been registered with the National Do Not Call Registry since 2017, and our office number ) since 2018. Yet, we now receive between 10–15 harassing calls per day, with many identified as “scam likely” or coming from suspicious numbers that leave no messages. Over just three days (July 15–17, 2025), we logged nearly 20 calls on one line alone. These calls are not typical robocalls—they began after conflicts with city officials intensified, which strongly suggests coordination. The harassment we have faced is not limited to phone calls and isolated encounters. It has evolved into multiple, coordinated forms of intimidation. On June 19, 2025, while I was using the Wells Fargo Bank drive-through, a black unmarked vehicle with oversized lights suddenly appeared behind my car. The vehicle remained parked as I drove away, creating a strong impression that I was being followed. This was not an isolated incident but part of a series of events that have contributed to a growing sense of surveillance and fear. Another concerning incident took place on June 4, 2025, at the Apple Farm Supermarket when a woman identifying herself as followed me to my car. Ms. Brown had previously contacted FRC requesting help with multiple unrelated issues, including taxes (outside our scope), mortgage assistance, food, and other matters. During our return call, we informed her that taxes were beyond our services but provided referrals to other agencies and suggested contacting her lender for refinancing or a hardship loan, which she declined. Approximately three weeks later, as I was leaving the supermarket, she reminded me that she was the same person who had called our nonprofit, stating that she follows my Facebook posts and that we are Facebook friends, though I had never seen her before. While speaking to me, she claimed to work for the Department of Health but said she was out of work for medical reasons and planned to return after an upcoming surgery. However, her online profile listed her as employed by the NYC Police Department. Because of the nature of her previous call, which was unfocused and irregular compared to typical requests for assistance, and her subsequent approach in the parking lot, the encounter felt orchestrated and highly suspicious. The intimidation escalated further the week of June 9–13, 2025, when, as I left the Peekskill Post Office after speaking with , two police officers rushed toward my car without any apparent reason. I quickly entered my car, locked the doors, and started the vehicle while observing the officers peering into the nearby All County Locksmith business, which appeared closed to my vehicle (approx. 5 – 7 feet away). No one appeared in the Locksmiths business….as the lights did not seem to be on….i later called All County’s CEO to make him aware of what happened – he stated he would review his surveillance footage and thanked me for the courtesy call. This incident was unsettling and inexplicable, leaving me concerned that I was being deliberately targeted. These actions collectively reflect a pattern of retaliation and harassment following our legitimate civic engagement and opposition to discriminatory practices by city departments. The deliberate timing, repeated nature, and increasing severity of these events strongly indicate an organized effort to intimidate and silence our organization and me personally. In addition to the calls, we have received multiple fraudulent text messages impersonating agencies such as the DMV and toll services, falsely claiming that my driver’s license would be suspended or that I owed toll fees. The DMV and EZPass confirmed these messages were scams. The suspicious timing of these messages, combined with the volume and persistence of the calls, 2 suggests that they are not random but coordinated attempts to intimidate and potentially extract sensitive information. On August 1, 2025, the harassment took a new form when we received a phone call from an individual identifying himself as Officer Lee of the Peekskill Police Department. He requested to view surveillance footage from one of our properties at Given the prior incidents and advice from a trusted locksmith, we decided not to return the call or provide access. The locksmith had previously warned that granting unrestricted access to law enforcement could lead to potential misuse of information. After discussing with the property’s business owner, Spanish Rupperto, who also expressed distrust of such requests, we decided against cooperating with the inquiry. Adding to our concern, we were informed by a detective from the area that I was being requested to appear for an interview at the . Given the ongoing harassment and the possibility of misuse of power, I exercised my Fifth Amendment right to remain silent after sharing relevant documentation, including proof of our nonprofit’s property purchase and Section 8 rent payments. Our attorney has been in contact with the State Attorney regarding these developments. The accumulation of these incidents—the suspicious in-person encounters, the persistent phone harassment, the fraudulent texts, and now the unsolicited police request to access our surveillance footage—demonstrates a clear and escalating pattern of intimidation and retaliation. These actions appear to be linked to the complaints we raised about discriminatory practices by the City of Peekskill. The combination of these incidents—the excessive spam calls, fraudulent text messages, impersonation attempts, and the intimidation by police and individuals connected to law enforcement—shows a coordinated pattern of retaliation. This pattern began after our nonprofit voiced concerns about unfair treatment during the grant process and after raising questions about irregular practices in the city’s Section 8 housing office. The timing of these events is too closely linked to our civic advocacy to be dismissed as coincidence. The Family Resource Center has a long and well-documented history of serving the Peekskill community. For more than 20 years, we have provided support for low-income families, seniors, and at-risk youth through housing programs, educational initiatives, and community partnerships. Our work has been recognized and celebrated by leaders from both political parties, which underscores that our mission has always been nonpartisan and in the public interest. Yet despite this record, we are now being subjected to harassment that has disrupted our operations, harmed our staff, and placed me personally under significant stress and fear for my safety. On August 1, 2025, I received an anonymous phone call from an individual identifying himself as Officer Lee of the Peekskill Police Department. He requested access to surveillance footage at 152 N Division St. Based on prior incidents and warnings from trusted professionals, I made the decision not to return the call or grant access. This decision was rooted in serious concerns about potential misuse of information and fear of being further targeted or entrapped. Given the troubling 3 pattern of prior harassment, surveillance-like behavior, and intimidation tactics, this phone call reinforced my belief that I, as well as the Family Resource Center, may be at risk of warrantless or retaliatory actions by individuals associated with City Hall. Several current and former City of Peekskill staff members have privately expressed concerns to me, either directly or indirectly, about abusive behavior, unfair treatment, and discriminatory practices within the City’s administration. For example, Hale shared that, based on his own experiences, he had strong grounds to pursue legal action against the City. However, he ultimately chose to move on and focus on his locksmith business rather than become entangled in further conflict. Mr. Hale also warned me never to provide law enforcement with keys to our low-income buildings, explaining that doing so could expose us to being set up or framed— a warning that feels especially relevant now. a respected community leader who has dedicated decades of service to Peekskill’s youth, has also faced mistreatment by individuals within the City’s administration. A sitting council member informed me that has already taken some form of action, described as having “papers in,” though I do not know the exact nature of these filings. herself expressed that she disapproved of the way I have been treated and shared her admiration for my willingness to stand up to what we believe are false accusations originating from individuals within City Hall or those acting on their behalf. While not all of these individuals have pursued lawsuits, there is documented proof that other employees have successfully taken legal action. Judge Lisette Fergerson filed a lawsuit against the City, and a Department of Public Works employee also successfully sued after raising concerns about unsafe working conditions. In the DPW case, the City failed to settle despite an initial $6 million demand, and the matter is currently headed to trial to determine the judgment amount. These examples show that allegations of misconduct and retaliation in Peekskill are not hypothetical—they are real and, in some cases, legally proven. Together, these accounts and my own experiences demonstrate a pattern of systemic retaliation, abuse of power, and discriminatory practices that heighten my fear of further harassment and wrongful targeting. Lastly, around July 20, 2025, I received a notification to appear in court for nonpayment regarding a fine, even though I had already paid it. The notification from Peekskill City Court arrived on July 23, 2025—after the scheduled court date—regarding a fine issued for trash dumping on our Despite my personally removing the trash in extreme cold, the City of Peekskill refused to remove the fine. Before cleaning the site, I had called Code Enforcement Officer Jessica Spritzer to request additional time due to the weather. She responded dismissively, gaslighting me about “what the code says,” and turning the call into an unnecessary argument. Although she eventually said “yes” to my request for more time, she never specified the length of the extension. That evening, I picked up the trash, documented the cleanup with photos, and emailed them to the supervisors of the Peekskill Building Department to show that I acted in good faith and was not ignoring the issue. Unfortunately, Officer approach during earlier conversations left the impression that she was abusing her authority and treating me unfairly. While I understand that code enforcement is a difficult job, requests for additional time should be handled clearly and without hostility. I later suggested that the City adopt a formal 4 process for requesting time extensions to prevent such conflicts. Despite my efforts to maintain good faith and contribute to the community, the City failed to grant me the same courtesies routinely extended to attorneys and white business owners—such as combining multiple propertyrelated cases to reduce repeated court appearances. Instead, I was repeatedly summoned to court, beginning in February 2025, without receiving equal treatment. Attached is the complaint correspondence I previously sent to both the Westchester County and Peekskill Courts regarding this unfair treatment. Given the history of retaliatory behavior from individuals within the City Manager’s office and their influence over various city departments, we believe these incidents are part of a broader attempt to intimidate and silence us. Our refusal to provide surveillance footage was based on prior advice and on our growing concern that information gathered could be used against us unfairly. We are now formally requesting that the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice: • Investigate the harassment campaign against me and the Family Resource Center of Peekskill, including the origins of the harassing calls, scam messages, impersonation attempts, and in-person intimidation. • Determine whether any officials or affiliates of the City of Peekskill—particularly within the City Manager’s office—are involved in orchestrating or enabling these retaliatory acts. • Assess whether these actions violate federal civil rights protections, including those safeguarding individuals and organizations from retaliation for lawful civic participation and opposition to discriminatory practices. • Ensure that we are protected from further harassment and that any misuse of law enforcement or municipal resources is addressed. • Pursue enforcement actions against any individuals or entities found responsible for this campaign, up to and including prosecution where appropriate. Please see relevant supporting evidence, including phone logs documenting harassing calls, confirmation of our phone numbers’ registration on the National Do Not Call Registry, screenshots of fraudulent text messages, proof of impersonation attempts, social media posts documenting our concerns, letters of recognition demonstrating our public service, and other related records. We are prepared to provide any other documents per request. This complaint is made in good faith and with a genuine concern for the safety and integrity of both myself and the Family Resource Center. We do not seek retaliation; we seek protection, for the abuse of power to stop, and the ability to continue our mission without fear. We respectfully ask that your office give this matter the urgent and impartial review it warrants. Sincerely, 5 6