Anchorage Activist
February 18th, 2006, 12:55 AM
Report from WAWS Channel 30, Jacksonville
http://www.fox30online.com
NAACP: Nooses found in Fire Department a step “back into slavery”
Last Update: 2/17/2006 4:29:43 PM
Two African American firefighters say they found a noose waiting for them when they arrived at work Friday morning. While the news is shocking, it may not be the first incidents of racism to occur within the fire department.
Rodrick Laws and his colleague Rufus Smith were the fire fighters who started their morning shift at Fire Station 4 Friday morning only to find a noose staring them in the face.
While Laws has few words to express how he feels, Laws’ stepfather says the incident makes him feel like he's traveling back in time.
"The people that did it don't have [a] clue what they can set the city up for," he says.
The Jacksonville branch of the NAACP and the fire department itself called for a criminal investigation.
"Nooses should not be found in 2006,” says NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin. “This is going back into slavery. This is going back to the 60's and if we are going to be a diverse community, these type of incidents are going to have to stop."
The firefighters made the discovery around 7 a.m. in a small room where firefighters hang their gear. To their surprise, attached to each of their fire jackets was a noose. Station 4 firefighters from all shifts were immediately called in for questioning.
"The individuals responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and are not representative of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue," said Bennie Seth with JFRD.
Police say there appeared to be no forced entry, and the local branch of the NAACP is saying it believes the incident was an inside job.
Alonzo Mcqueen is head of the Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters, which represents African Americans on the force. He says Jacksonville Fire and Rescue has a long history of bad race relations, including some letters he received at work in the mail.
Firefighters Smith and Laws were the only African American firefighters working at Station 4 in the last two days.
(Below is a copy of the actual card sent to Alonzo McQueen, President Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters in December of 2004. It has been transcribed and edited to delete inappropriate language.)
“Open all packeges very carfullie!!! Ha Ha Ha! Hope you join widow and Orphin Club. You can where a little Green an Red suit and bee 1 of Santas little N - - - - -
“You useless Piece of Dog ----!!! Snipers Rule!!!!! P.S. Target still need a Poster Boy!!! This Maybe a little carlie but I thout you shood get to enjoy it before youre awaiting Demise may be sooner then you think.. Enjoy the days that you have left!!!!
“P.s: don’t ever Block a real Chiefs Car with youres! you worth less peiice of ----, By the way we All herd what you thout you hear and you’re a World class N- - - - -!!!! Be careful you have many more enemys then you have frends!!!! Maybe you can be The Poster BOY for TargeT. Snipers RULE!!!”
"Back Into Slavery".:rolleyes: Typical NAACP hyperbole. Watch them try to extort something from the city over this.
http://www.fox30online.com
NAACP: Nooses found in Fire Department a step “back into slavery”
Last Update: 2/17/2006 4:29:43 PM
Two African American firefighters say they found a noose waiting for them when they arrived at work Friday morning. While the news is shocking, it may not be the first incidents of racism to occur within the fire department.
Rodrick Laws and his colleague Rufus Smith were the fire fighters who started their morning shift at Fire Station 4 Friday morning only to find a noose staring them in the face.
While Laws has few words to express how he feels, Laws’ stepfather says the incident makes him feel like he's traveling back in time.
"The people that did it don't have [a] clue what they can set the city up for," he says.
The Jacksonville branch of the NAACP and the fire department itself called for a criminal investigation.
"Nooses should not be found in 2006,” says NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin. “This is going back into slavery. This is going back to the 60's and if we are going to be a diverse community, these type of incidents are going to have to stop."
The firefighters made the discovery around 7 a.m. in a small room where firefighters hang their gear. To their surprise, attached to each of their fire jackets was a noose. Station 4 firefighters from all shifts were immediately called in for questioning.
"The individuals responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and are not representative of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue," said Bennie Seth with JFRD.
Police say there appeared to be no forced entry, and the local branch of the NAACP is saying it believes the incident was an inside job.
Alonzo Mcqueen is head of the Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters, which represents African Americans on the force. He says Jacksonville Fire and Rescue has a long history of bad race relations, including some letters he received at work in the mail.
Firefighters Smith and Laws were the only African American firefighters working at Station 4 in the last two days.
(Below is a copy of the actual card sent to Alonzo McQueen, President Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters in December of 2004. It has been transcribed and edited to delete inappropriate language.)
“Open all packeges very carfullie!!! Ha Ha Ha! Hope you join widow and Orphin Club. You can where a little Green an Red suit and bee 1 of Santas little N - - - - -
“You useless Piece of Dog ----!!! Snipers Rule!!!!! P.S. Target still need a Poster Boy!!! This Maybe a little carlie but I thout you shood get to enjoy it before youre awaiting Demise may be sooner then you think.. Enjoy the days that you have left!!!!
“P.s: don’t ever Block a real Chiefs Car with youres! you worth less peiice of ----, By the way we All herd what you thout you hear and you’re a World class N- - - - -!!!! Be careful you have many more enemys then you have frends!!!! Maybe you can be The Poster BOY for TargeT. Snipers RULE!!!”
"Back Into Slavery".:rolleyes: Typical NAACP hyperbole. Watch them try to extort something from the city over this.