The Moral Crusade | 5
Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD
Legacy of Morality and Exploitation
This chapter examines the legacy of 19th-century NYPD officer Alexander S. Williams, who employed brutal tactics in a morally corrupt era of New York City. It highlights the intersection of policing and moral crusades, particularly through Anthony Comstock's anti-obscenity campaign and the subsequent enactment of the Comstock Act. The narrative also explores the challenges women faced in asserting reproductive rights, underscoring the societal and legal obstacles placed against them amid growing tensions between morality and personal freedoms.
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