“Each complainant was unable to communicate effectively with the NYPD and access critical services in moments of crisis,” MRNY said in a statement. “Two complainants were wrongfully arrested because of the NYPD’s failure to provide foreign language interpretation.”

Maria Aparicio, a Make the Road New York member and a complainant, said that she was ignored when she asked the police for help.

“I knew that they were discriminating against me and that they would not treat someone who spoke English as they treated me,” Aparicio said. “It left me feeling so hopeless and paralyzed in my powerlessness.”