Excerpts from ABC7Chicago.com: A group of African-American firefighters and paramedics in Chicago are demanding that Mayor Rahm Emanuel replace Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago and call for a federal investigation into the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). The mayor has stated that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has been overseeing CFD’s promotion testing since 1980, and that the city continues to work with the DOJ on this matter. The African American Firefighters & Paramedics League claims that racism still exists within the CFD, despite a court order requiring fair hiring and promotions for Black firefighters. The department has a long history of discriminatory practices, and recent class-action lawsuits have led to more minorities and women being hired. However, some argue that harsh discipline and missed promotions continue to disproportionately affect African Americans. It's unusual for a firefighter to speak out against the department, but on Thursday, representatives from the African American Firefighters & Paramedics League made serious allegations. “We face systemic racism within the Chicago Fire Department,†said James Winbush, a member of the league. They want the DOJ to investigate hiring and promotion practices and demand the fire commissioner’s resignation. Winbush criticized the commissioner for making promises he doesn’t follow through on, saying, “He says one thing, but does something completely different.†Mayor Rahm Emanuel acknowledged changes made to address past issues but stood by Commissioner Santiago, emphasizing equal treatment and opportunity. Despite progress in hiring following legal action, current employees say problems still persist. Vickie Beals, an ambulance commander, shared her experience: “Despite my education, work history, and experience, I was still demoted and treated unfairly.†Another issue raised was how a station with mostly Black firefighters was handled after concerns about bedbugs. New beds were delivered just before the league held its press conference. Gregory Boggs, another member, said, “We’re not asking for special treatment—we just want equality.†thanks Dan Excerpts from WLSAM.com: African-American firefighters in Chicago are calling for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to step down, accusing him of racism and poor leadership. 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 pushing for both the resignation of Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Mayor Rahm Emanuel needs to be gone. He’s racist, he’s incompetent, and he’s a union buster,†Winbush said. Of the city’s 4,800 firefighters, only 753 are Black, according to Winbush. He also wants the U.S. Department of Justice, currently investigating the police department, to look into the fire department’s hiring practices. thanks Asher 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 investigation into 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 remove Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago, claiming he has failed to address discrimination against minority firefighters. Gregory Boggs, the league’s president, stated at a news conference, “We need to address the fact that there have been so few minority hirings. We want the Justice Department to come in before any new hiring is done. African-Americans are disciplined more often than others, and we’re calling on the mayor to act.†The Chicago Fire Department has faced numerous lawsuits over the years, with courts ordering it to change its hiring practices to be more inclusive. According to Larry Langford, a department spokesman, about 16.5% of firefighters are African-American, 13.5% are Hispanic, and the rest are white. The department has taken steps to broaden its applicant pool, including lowering the minimum age for the entrance exam to 17 and changing the grading system to pass-fail. “There are no restrictions on who can apply for this job,†Langford said. “We aren’t excluding anyone. What else can we do to be more inclusive?†Captain Carmelita Wiley-Earls shared her story, explaining how she was moved from her administrative position after reporting sexist behavior in her firehouse. “I’m tired of putting on my uniform every day and facing retaliation,†she said. Non-substrate Double Sided Tape Non-Substrate Double Sided Tape,Heat Resistant Double-Sided Tape,Heat Resistant Tape,Double Sided Cloth Tape Kunshan An De Qing Electric Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.andeqing.com