Excerpts from ABC7Chicago.com:
Some Black firefighters and paramedics in Chicago are demanding that Mayor Rahm Emanuel remove Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago and push for a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). The mayor noted that the DOJ has been overseeing CFD promotions testing since 1980 and said the city is continuing to work with them.
The African American Firefighters & Paramedics League claims there's still systemic racism within the CFD, despite court orders to increase diversity in hiring and promotion. The department has a long history of discriminatory practices, and recent class-action lawsuits have led to more minorities and women becoming firefighters. However, some argue that harsh discipline and missed promotions disproportionately affect Black employees.
It’s rare for a firefighter to speak out against the department, but on Thursday, several representatives from the African American Firefighters & Paramedics League made serious allegations. “We have systemic racism within the Chicago Fire Department,†said James Winbush, a member of the group. He added that the league has met with the commissioner multiple times over five years, only to see little change.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel acknowledged efforts to address past injustices and expressed support for Fire Commissioner Santiago, emphasizing that equal treatment and opportunity are critical. Despite this, current firefighters claim that problems persist.
Vickie Beals, an ambulance commander, shared her experience: “Despite my degrees, work history, and experience, I still found myself being demoted and not treated fairly.†Another incident involved a station with mostly Black firefighters who were given new beds after concerns about bedbugs, which was highlighted during a press conference by the league.
“We’re not asking for a handout—we just want equality,†said Gregory Boggs, a member of the African American Firefighters & Paramedics League.
Thanks Dan.
Excerpts from WLSAM.com:
There is a renewed call for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign, this time from some firefighters. James Winbush, founder of the African American Firefighter and Paramedic League of Chicago, accused the fire department of unfair hiring practices and called for both the resignation of Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
“Mayor Rahm Emanuel, we need him out of here. He’s racist, he’s incompetent, he’s a union buster,†Winbush said. He pointed out that out of 4,800 firefighters in the city, only 753 are Black. Winbush also urged the U.S. Department of Justice, currently investigating the police department, to look into the fire department’s hiring practices.
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Excerpts from theChicagoTribune.com:
An organization representing African-American firefighters and paramedics asked the U.S. Department of Justice to expand its probe of the Chicago Police Department to include the fire department, citing unfair hiring and disciplinary practices. The African-American Firefighters & Paramedics League of Chicago also demanded that Mayor Rahm Emanuel dismiss Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago, alleging he failed to investigate claims of unjust discipline and demotion against minority firefighters.
Gregory Boggs, the league’s president, stated, “We have to address the fact that there have been so few minority hirings on the job.†He emphasized the need for the DOJ to intervene before any new hiring occurs. Fire departments across the country have struggled with racial disparities, and the Chicago Fire Department, led by a Hispanic commissioner, is no exception, according to the firefighters.
Chicago’s fire department has faced numerous lawsuits and has been ordered by courts to improve its hiring practices. According to Larry Langford, a department spokesman, 16.5% of firefighters are African-American, 13.5% are Hispanic, and the majority—64.5%—are white.
Langford said the department has taken steps to make the hiring process more inclusive, including lowering the minimum age for the entrance exam to 17 and changing the grading system to pass-fail. More than 40,000 people took the test, though only a few hundred will be hired.
About three dozen Black firefighters and paramedics attended a news conference to share their personal stories. Capt. Carmelita Wiley-Earls described how she was moved from an administrative position after complaining about sexist behavior in her firehouse.
“I am sick of putting my uniform on every day, going to a firehouse to represent and serve the citizens of Chicago, only to be retaliated against on various fronts,†she said.
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