Michael Fortner

Professor Michael Fortner is a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at The Graduate Center, CUNY. His research focuses on criminal justice policy, urban politics, and the historical and contemporary dynamics of race and policing in Black communities. He is the author of Black Silent Majority: The Rockefeller Drug Laws and the Politics of Punishment, examining the impact of punitive policies on marginalized communities. Fortner’s work bridges academic scholarship with activism, addressing systemic issues such as police brutality, criminal justice reform, and the legacy of the War on Drugs. He has been widely interviewed on platforms like Politico and The New Yorker, discussing parallels between historical and modern social movements, including Black Lives Matter.

His current research explores the decline of the New Deal coalition in New York City, analyzing shifts from progressive governance to neoliberal policies. Fortner’s personal history, including familial experiences with crime and incarceration in Brownsville, Brooklyn, informs his advocacy for communities that are 'over-policed and under-protected.' He emphasizes the need for structural reforms, such as stricter police accountability measures and alternative approaches to mental health crises, to create safer environments.