Excerpts from ABC7Chicago.com:
Chicago's African American firefighters and paramedics are urging Mayor Rahm Emanuel to remove Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago and are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Chicago Fire Department. The mayor mentioned that the DOJ has been overseeing the department's promotion tests since 1980 and that the city is actively cooperating with them.
The African American Firefighters & Paramedics League claims that racial bias persists within the CFD, even after a court order mandated the hiring and promotion of black firefighters. Despite recent class-action lawsuits that have increased diversity among firefighters, some argue that harsh disciplinary actions and missed promotions disproportionately affect African Americans in the department.
Speaking out against the department is uncommon, but representatives from Chicago's African American firefighting community shared alarming allegations this week. “Systemic racism exists within the Chicago Fire Department,†said James Winbush, president of the African American Firefighters & Paramedics League. They demand an investigation into hiring and promotion practices and are calling for the removal of Fire Commissioner Santiago.
Winbush stated, “For five years, the league has met with him. We’ve discussed these issues multiple times, but his actions contradict his words.†Mayor Emanuel highlighted recent efforts to rectify past hiring injustices and expressed support for Commissioner Santiago. Both emphasized the importance of equal treatment and opportunities within the department.
Even though African American applicants have entered the academy due to legal rulings, issues persist. “Despite my qualifications, work history, and experience, I've been demoted and treated unfairly,†said Vickie Beals, a CFD ambulance commander. They cited a recent incident where a firehouse predominantly staffed by African American firefighters received new beds shortly after a press conference highlighting these grievances.
“We don’t seek special treatment; we just want equality,†said Gregory Boggs, another member of the African American Firefighters & Paramedics League.
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Excerpts from WLSAM.com:
A Renewed Call for Rahm Emanuel's Resignation
James Winbush, founder of the African American Firefighter and Paramedic League of Chicago, claims there are unfair hiring practices within the fire department and is urging the resignation of both Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago and Mayor Emanuel. “Mayor Rahm Emanuel needs to go. He’s racist, incompetent, and anti-union,†Winbush said.
Out of the city’s 4,800 firefighters, Winbush states that 753 are Black. He wants the U.S. Department of Justice, which is currently investigating the police department, to look into the fire department's hiring practices as well.
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Excerpts from theChicagoTribune.com:
An organization representing African-American firefighters and paramedics has requested that the U.S. Department of Justice extend 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, accusing him of neglecting to address claims of unjust disciplinary actions and demotions against minority firefighters.
“We must confront the fact that there have been so few minority hires,†said Gregory Boggs, a lieutenant emergency medical technician and league president, during a press conference. “We want the Justice Department to intervene before any new hiring takes place. African-Americans are disciplined far more frequently than others. We urge the mayor to take action,†he continued.
Fire departments nationwide face challenges related to race and hiring. Although Chicago’s department is led by a Hispanic individual, he has not adequately addressed ongoing discrimination and bias, the firefighters assert. The Chicago Fire Department has faced numerous lawsuits and court orders mandating changes to make hiring more inclusive. According to Larry Langford, a department spokesperson, African-Americans account for 16.5% of the city’s nearly 4,800 firefighters. Hispanics make up around 13.5%, while the majority—about 64.5%—are white.
“There are no limitations on who can apply for this job,†Langford said. “We aren’t excluding anyone. What further changes can we implement to ensure inclusivity?â€
The written exam for aspiring firefighters is administered roughly once every ten years. Over 40,000 people took the December exam, though only a few hundred will ultimately be hired. Those who pass receive a random number, join a waiting list, and may be offered a position when their number is called.
About three dozen black firefighters and paramedics attended the press conference to share their personal experiences. Captain Carmelita Wiley-Earls joined the department to serve the public and advanced to become an academy commander. However, after reporting sexist behavior in her firehouse, she claimed she was demoted from her administrative role.
“I’m tired of wearing my uniform daily, representing and serving the citizens of Chicago, only to face retaliation in various forms,†she said.
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