Groups launch new discrimination complaints against JFRD

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Updated: 2/14 6:33 pm
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A new lawsuit accuses the City of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department of discriminatory employment practices.

The Lawyers' Committee filed the action Thursday on behalf of the Jacksonville Branch of the NAACP and the Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters. The organizations claim only 20 percent of local firefighters are Black, despite making up 30 percent of the city.

"A career in fire service is one of only a few career opportunities in Jacksonville that offers job security, economic stability, and a means of promotion without a college degree," counsel Kirsten Doolittle said in a statement, "We are committed to ensuring that there is an equal playing field for African Americans seeking to serve this community as paramedics and firefighters."

The Jacksonville Human Rights Commission investigated JFRD's practices after nooses were reportedly hung inside several lockers. In August 2006, the Commission's findings revealed widespread discrimination against African-Americans.
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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Action News Jacksonville

nativejax - 2/14/2013 11:00 PM
0 Votes
Well said captcul and Papakilo.

Papakilo - 2/14/2013 7:21 PM
1 Vote
More disractions by frivolous law suits and groups living off the public spot light. Like many occupations, there are mental and physical REQUIREMENTS. If some folks (red, white, green, black, brown, etc.) can't exceed those requirements, I for one, as a citizen and taxpayer in Jacksonville, do not want any individual to be hired just to fill some arbitrated balance for any race, color, or creed. I want our safety departments populated just by the most qualified personnel possible. The various jobs in all of our safety departments (police, fire, emergency services, etc.) are not made better professionally or technically by any particular race, color or creed. I don't care about those things when a life or safety is at stake. Each and every individual needs to perform all their duties with knowledge, skill, and physical ability. Those goals are not achieved by having an equal balance of race, color or creed...and do not serve this city by lowering any standard or requirement to that end. Safety is not a popularity, beauty, balancing contest, it is a job in which saving lives and property are goal. Our city leaders need to get some back bone and stop really stupid suits.

captcul - 2/14/2013 6:22 PM
2 Votes
disgusting. if white folks did this there would be an outcry of discrimination by black people. this group continues to feed the separation of Americans based on color of skin.
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