Calls are growing louder for the police department to abandon its controversial stop-and-frisk practice, as immigrant workers and students marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall Park Wednesday.

Organized by “Make the Road New York“, opponents say the policy of approaching individuals based on suspicion is ineffective, costly, and discriminatory.

“I’ve been stopped and frisked about 20 times during the last four years. All that has done to me is made me dislike the NYPD,” said a protester.

“I feel like our community is under siege by a department we should be welcoming,” said City Councilman Jumaane Williams.

In 2009, over 500,000 people were stopped and frisked.

The NYPD has long defended the policy, saying it improves safety and deters crime.

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