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March 17,2004
Chicago Fire Department Radio Slurs Bring Call for Change
Accused of
culture of racism
(AP) — A string o f racial slurs
bro ad cast o v er C h ic a g o ’s fire
departm ent radios has City Hall
in an uproar, and the m ayor is
calling on firefig h ters to break
their silence and identify the
culprits.
City Council members, mean
while, are dem anding reforms to
end what they say is a culture of
racism in the departm ent.
Amid the controversy, a black
fire battalion chief received a
death threat, and an outspoken
black alderm an said that he, too,
had been warned against criticiz
ing the departm ent.
At least five racial slurs have
been heard over the departm ent’s
ra d io s sin c e F e b ru a ry . T he
firefighter accused o f making the
first slur Feb. 2 was given a 90-
day suspension and was trans
ferred. The departm ent's internal
affairs division is investigating
the other slurs.
M ayor Richard M. Daley has
called those responsible “cow
ards,” and urged firefighters to
identify the offenders “because
this is not good for their profes
sion.”
At a City Council m eeting last
W e d n e sd a y ,
A ld e rw o m a n
Freddrenna Lyle proposed the city
create a citizens’ oversight board
for the fire department. The mayor
called it a good idea.
“ I think there’s a family atm o
sp h e re th at m akes it alm o st
incestual,” Lyle said. “We want
to change the whole attitude in
the departm ent."
Alderman Ed Smith received
an anonym ous postcard last week
that read: “W hen the riot you are
trying to start begins you better
make sure all the fire fighters
around your house are black —
so you get the flames out.”
And Alderwoman Emma Mitts
said she received racist voice mails
after dem anding the transfer o f a
firefighter accused of a racist com
ment.
In addition. B attalion C hief
Nicholas Russell, president o f the
African American Fire Fighters
League of Chicago, recently re
ceived a threat that talked about
a battalion chief being shot and
left in a shallow grave.
The departm ent has a history
o f racial issues and court inter
vention.
The federal governm ent sued
over alleged discrim inatory hir
ing and prom otion in 1973, a time
when blacks and H ispanics made
up fewer than 5 percent o f the
uniform ed em ployees. Court or
ders settling the case required
Chicago to hire and promote more
minorities.
Store Stays Open as
Moving Plans Made
Ken H atch, the o w n er o f
A in sw o rth D rug, 3002 N.E.
Ainsworth St., wants customers to
know he is open for business and
will remain open as plans inch for
ward to move to another location.
Hatch estimates it will be the end
of May before he is ready to move
to a building being renovated at
7027 N. Interstate. He said the
Ainsworth store would remain open
in the meantime.
The pharmacist has operated
Ainsworth Drug for 11 years, but
the store has served the Concordia
Neighborhood since the 1940s, pro
viding a convenient location to
many long time residents.
Correction: TD
Jakes Due in April
E v a n g e lis t T .D . J a k e s is
n o t s c h e d u le d to m a k e a p r e
s e n ta tio n th is w e e k at a P o r t
la n d c o n f e r e n c e h o n o r in g
b lack w o m a n , b u t in ste a d w ill
b e th e f e a tu r e d a ttr a c tio n
d u r in g P o r tla n d C ru s a d e at
M e m o ria l C o lis e u m on A p ril
2 a n d 3.
T he d ates correct in fo rm a
tion in last w e e k ’s issue about
the A frican A m erican C h am
ber o f C o m m erce’s annual event
titled "N ev er U nderestim ate the
P ow er o f a B lack W o m an ” at
the O regon C on v en tio n C en ter
on Friday, M arch 19.
T he p o w er o f a black w om an
co n feren ce will include keynote
s p e a k e r P a tr ic ia R u s s e ll
M cC loud, nationally-noted ora
tor, e d u cato r and m otivational
speak er, recognized by O prah
W infrey and m any publications
from coast-to-coast.
T ickets for both events are
limited. For more information,call
Roy Jay at the African A m erican
C ham ber o f C om m erce at 503-
244-5794, extension 45.
Members o f the Congressional Black Caucus, including caucus chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md. (left) and Rep. Major Owens,
D-N. Y. (right) pledge their support Thursday to John Kerry, D-Mass., saying they plan to work closely with the presidential
candidate and involve minorities in his campaign. (AP photo)
Black Caucus Supports Kerry
(A P) - Black m em bers o f n o rities in his effo rt to unseat as he spent the day on C apitol a fte r the m eeting w ith Kerry
C o n g re ss e x p e c t to c o n fe r P resident B ush, an official o f H ill sh o rin g up h is su p p o rt that caucus m em bers w ere en
re g u la rly w ith D e m o c ra tic the C o ngressional Black C a u am ong c o n g re ssio n a l D em o cou rag ed “this will be an o n
p re sid e n tia l can d id ate John cus said T hursday.
crats.
going relationship. ...I tis c le a r
K erry and help him plan c am
K erry met p riv ately for 45
Rep. E lijah E. C um m ings. D- we are all about the business
paign strategy and involve m i m inutes w ith caucus m em bers M d., ch air o f the caucus, said o f building A m erica.”
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