By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 6:54 AM
The association of black city firefighters is holding a press conference today to once again demand Mayor Francis Slay address the group's concerns. Labels: Fire_Dept, Francis_Slay, Race, Recall
The Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), which almost all of the city's African-American fire fighters belong to — representing 44% of the fire department — is upset with Slay for removing Fire Chief Sherman George from his position and for dealing exclusively with the so-called white firefighters union, Local 73.
UPDATE: The group is also calling on a return the 50/50 hiring (one white for every black) policy which the fire department operated under for many years under a federal consent decree.
From F.I.R.E.:Members of F.I.R.E. will uphold our oath to the citizens of the city of St. Louis to protect property and save lives. We will fight fires aggressively; respond to emergency medical and special calls with integrity and professionalism. Yet we will not stand for our issues to be ignored by the mayor; members of F.I.R.E. is comprised of 98% of the Black firefighters in the department and represent 44% of the members in the St. Louis Fire Department. Our issues with testing are still pending in the federal court of appeals. Racial tensions are present in firehouses and must be addressed.
Today's press conference is at 3:30 PM at F.I.R.E.'s headquarters, 1020N. Taylor Ave.
We have witnessed the mayor addressing all of the issues (transfers, civil service hearings, non-establishment of an Advanced Life Support Pumper Program, etc.) of local 73 during Chief George’s tenure. He has affirmed actions for the local in reference to promotions and the demotion of Fire Chief George. His most recent affirmed action was to promote Battalion Chief Dennis Jenkerson to Fire chief over the most qualified officer in the department Deputy Chief Charles Coyle. Yet he has not addressed our chief complaint cheating during the 2004 exam administered by EBJacobs. To add insult to injury they want to create a position and give it to a Black officer to appease Black firefighters we reject that offer. REINSTATE THE FIRE CHIEF SHERMAN GEORGE!
The Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.) will not be able to move forward if our issues are not addressed.
14 Comments:
F.I.R.E. is afraid of Local #73 and Mayor Slay, otherwise they would force some real action that makes people know that you are not playing.
Press conferences are not going to get anything done at all. Mayor Slay is going to laugh at this weak attempt to demand some rights, and he will create the position of Assistant Fire Chief and offer it to a black firefighter and then say these black firefighters should be happy because I didn't have to offer them anything.
Yesterday, blacks were called niggers, but today they are treated like niggers.
Same old song and dance from F.I.R.E., and the same old results will occur. Until black people take part in the Malcolm X theory, change will not come. Paraphrasing, you shoot my dog, I obliterate your cat.
11/28/2007 7:55 AM
So people can still post Anonymous?
Ant and his joke of a blog continues.
By the way 50/50 hiring and promoting? That sounds real responsible...thank god the military doesn't work that way!
11/28/2007 8:42 AM
50/50 hiring???
Quotas and set-asides are not good ideas. If anyone, black or white or whatever, knows that they only have to beat out members of their own race, they won't try as hard to study and won't be as good as firefighter. (Kind of like the joke about the two people being chased by a bear, you don't have to outrun the bear, only the other person.)
As a practical matter, what about Asians, Hispanics or Native Americans? Are they in the need not apply category?
11/28/2007 9:06 AM
I see something wonderful coming to the United Stated of America in the near future. I see the day when people of all color can live and work together without major conflict. That day is coming because even African-Americans are getting tired of these "Black Leaders" and "Black Organizations" crying wolf and playing the race card all of the time. Their insignificance is even becoming more apparent as days go on as they struggle to keep the recall effort alive through the media. I work closely with 4 blacks, 2 live in North St. Louis, and the other 2 live in Mid-Town, and when they brought up the subject of how the Chief was lucky he wasn't fired and how they wish Nasheed, Parham, and other names I didn't recognize would just shut up, I almost fell to the floor. After talking with them about the subject I was dumbfounded to find out not all blacks have grudges with whites. One of my co-workers told me that most blacks that hate or don't trust whites read papers like the American and listen to these so-called men of god that stir the racial pot. I picked up a copy of the American today and after reading some of the commentary and articles I started to hate white people and I'm white. I'm not saying that there are whites who are not racially motivated but this isn't the 50's and 60's any more. Unfortunately for the media who feeds off of this stuff, they are going to have to become real Journalist and go find the stories that really matter to all people.
Trust me people the day is coming when Dr. Kings dream will become reality, we just need to get rid of some of the bad apples in the bushel.
11/28/2007 9:50 AM
When Dr.King was having a dream, most blacks were having nightmares. I remember when Rev. Sammie Jones was president of the Black Clergy Coalition, it was a monolithic organization. In other words, Sammie Jones comments represented all members...remember?
But, Rev. Parham comments are not a direct reflection of the other members. I wonder why? It's another sad day on earth. If you endorse the establishment you're considered cooperative and sensible. However, if you're against the establishment you're a "trouble maker". That explains why many whites are fed up with Jesse Jqackson and Al Sharpton..right? In my world I don't recognize people like Earl Nance, Jeff Smith, Bill Cosby and others as black leaders. The media may refer to these people as leaders, if in fact people are following. I don't consider Jesse Jackson a black leader, he's a good speaker and he's made significant contributions especially during the first 30 years of his career as a champion for African American rights. Equal rights not rights that made blacks better but equal rights. Some whites wish blacks would accept being inferior and less than 3/5 a man. Some whites wish blacks would "shut up", like native Americans, and accept the roles whites have defined for us.....And the United States is worried about problems in other countries..the kettle is burning master..don't worry when it's all over the chickens will come home to roost....Nat Turner speaks again!
11/28/2007 1:32 PM
Just to make something known to the person that just read the American today...not all articles/columns in the American are written by African Americans.
11/28/2007 2:27 PM
Ummm. yes they are. Go to The American website and go to the columnist page. If their not all black then I need a new monitor.
11/28/2007 3:24 PM
I thought the main editor of the American was a white guy?
11/28/2007 3:43 PM
Yes he is, his name is Chris King. I believe his main duty is "Token". Because I can't believe that there isn't a more qualified African American that could do the job of this White Guy.
11/28/2007 4:16 PM
50/50? What's with the sheer lunacy and racism of discriminating against applicants who are neither white nor black? Whoever is in charge of F.I.R.E. needs to straighten their racist act up.
11/28/2007 5:34 PM
ah yeah, a federal judge ruled in st. louis that the 50/50 hiring was illegal
next topic
11/28/2007 9:53 PM
chris king is a wimp! he continually writes lies about people in that political eye column he writes instead of writing it under his own name
what a ball-less punk!
11/29/2007 2:22 PM
White firefighters had a 100% white quota for over 100 years in the St. Louis Fire Department but are whining when a 58% black citizenry calls for 50/50 hiring to achieve parity brought about by over 100 years of discrimination!
11/29/2007 5:54 PM
Would hospital hire 50/50?No. The department met the quota set by the courts in the 70's.That is why there is no 50/50.Their is such a thing as reverse discrimination. Two white firefighters have won suites for being passed over because they were white.You have to hire the best qualified for the job otherwise you open yourself up to a law suite when something goes wrong. If number 99 is hire before number 10 because he is black is that fair andhire the best qualified.If you were the one passed up you would be mad. If your were number ten and black and number 99 white was hired before you, you would be pissed. The courts deemed the cut off and it was met.Jobs should be earned not given because of skin color
12/02/2007 10:17 AM
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