Excerpts from ABC7Chicago.com:
Some African-American firefighters and paramedics in Chicago are raising concerns about systemic racism within the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). They are calling for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to remove Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago and for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch an investigation into the department’s hiring and promotion practices. The mayor has stated that the DOJ has been overseeing CFD promotions since 1980, and he emphasized that the city is continuing its collaboration with the agency.
The African American Firefighters & Paramedics League claims that despite court orders requiring fair hiring and promotion of Black firefighters, discrimination still persists. The CFD has a long history of biased hiring, and recent class-action lawsuits have led to more minority and female firefighters being hired. However, some argue that harsh discipline and missed promotions continue to disproportionately affect African Americans.
It's rare for firefighters to publicly criticize their department, but on Thursday, members of the African American Firefighters & Paramedics League spoke out. James Winbush, a member of the group, accused the CFD of having “systemic racism.†He said the league has met with the fire commissioner for years, but nothing has changed.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel acknowledged past efforts to address hiring inequalities but stood by Commissioner Santiago, emphasizing that equal treatment and opportunity remain key priorities. Despite progress, some current firefighters say the issues persist. Vickie Beals, an ambulance commander, shared her own experience of being demoted and treated unfairly despite her qualifications.
Another incident highlighted by the group involved a station with a majority of African American firefighters who were given new beds after complaints about bedbugs, which was revealed during a press conference. Gregory Boggs, another member of the league, stressed that they are not asking for handouts, just fairness and equality.
Thanks Dan.
Excerpts from WLSAM.com:
There is a growing 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, accuses the city of unfair hiring practices and demands both the resignation of Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Winbush called the mayor “racist, incompetent, and a union buster.†Of the city’s 4,800 firefighters, only 753 are Black, according to him. He also urged the U.S. Department of Justice, currently investigating the police department, to look into the fire department’s hiring processes.
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Excerpts from theChicagoTribune.com:
An organization representing African-American firefighters and paramedics in Chicago has called on the U.S. Department of Justice to expand its probe of the Chicago Police Department to include the fire department. They claim that hiring and disciplinary practices within the CFD are unfair and discriminatory.
The African-American Firefighters & Paramedics League of Chicago also demanded that Mayor Rahm Emanuel dismiss Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago, accusing him of failing to properly investigate claims that minority firefighters are being disciplined and demoted unfairly. Gregory Boggs, the league’s president, said the department must address the lack of minority hires and the disproportionate number of disciplinary actions against African Americans.
Fire departments across the country have struggled with race-related issues, and the Chicago Fire Department, led by a Hispanic commissioner, is no exception. Despite legal orders to improve inclusivity, the department continues to face allegations of bias.
Of the nearly 4,800 firefighters in Chicago, 16.5% are African-American, 13.5% are Hispanic, and the rest are white, according to a department spokesperson. The CFD has taken steps to broaden its applicant pool, including lowering the minimum age for the entrance exam to 17 and changing the scoring system to pass-fail.
Despite these efforts, several black firefighters attended a news conference to share their personal stories. Captain Carmelita Wiley-Earls, for example, said she was demoted after reporting sexist behavior in her firehouse, something she claimed had never happened before.
The written firefighter exam is held roughly once a decade, with over 40,000 applicants taking it each time. Only a few hundred will be hired, and those who pass are placed on a waiting list.
“Everyone is welcome to apply,†the spokesperson said. “What else can we do to be more inclusive?â€
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