New York City officials have suspended nine firefighters without pay in connection with a string of racist messages and memes they shared on their phones, including ones that mocked the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
A spokesperson called the suspensions the most severe punishments ever handed down in the history of the Fire Department of the City of New York, The New York TimesAfter looking into complaints by several Black firefighters, the department suspended the nine firefighters without pay for periods ranging from a few days to six months, Fire Department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. One of the firefighters is expected to leave the agency after his suspension ends, Nigro said.
Black firefighters told the Times they believed the suspensions fell far short of addressing what they consider deep-rooted problems in the department, where leaders have acknowledged that racism, sexism and harassment have been tolerated. Nigro said the department has embraced diversity initiatives and welcomed historically diverse classes into the academy in recent years. He said the department is working to become more inclusive, but he also admitted fault.
“We’ve welcomed the folks in and now we have to make them feel welcome,” Nigro told the newspaper. “We have to make them feel as if they belong. And in some cases, we failed.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sotomayor declines to block vaccine mandate for New York City public school employeesU.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor denies an emergency application filed by a group of New York teachers, refusing to block an order requiring them to have at least one Covid vaccine before returning to the classroom.
Read more »
Justice Sotomayor rejects request to block New York City school vaccine mandateJustice Sonia Sotomayor on Friday denied a request from a group of New York City teachers to block the city's vaccine mandate for public school employees.
Read more »
‘Bachelorette’ Alum Zac Clark Is Gearing Up for the London and New York City MarathonsTwo races, two continents, five weeks, one goal: Raise as much awareness as possible for substance abuse and addiction treatment.
Read more »
George W. and Laura Bush share 1st photo with new granddaughterThe Bushes are grandparents again!
Read more »
Bronze busts honor Floyd, Taylor and Lewis in New YorkThree bronze busts depicting the late Congressman John Lewis, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd have been placed in New York's Union Square as part of Confront Art's inaugural 'SEEINJUSTICE' exhibition.
Read more »
The Global Climate Strike Returns to the Streets of New YorkThe goals of this year’s Friday for Futures’ global strike were expressly intersectional, and the young people who gathered in New York City advocated for those most affected by the crisis.
Read more »