City authorities advocate for an investigation following alleged blatant racists content in FDNY training material.
In a shocking turn of events, an incident at the Fire Department of New York's (FDNY) summer youth program in Queens has raised serious concerns about racial bias and inappropriate training practices. The controversial event, which was first reported by PIX11, involved students of colour carrying cotton balls with their hands tied behind their backs as part of a team-building exercise.
The activity, characterised as a team-building exercise by the FDNY, has been met with widespread condemnation. Oren Barzilay, head of the union for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers, described the video as "shameful" and an "unacceptable way for youth to be educated." He further expressed his disappointment that young children have to be exposed to racial bias as part of education exercises within the FDNY.
Nicole Brownstein, schools spokesperson, stated that the egregious behaviour was not aligned with their values or expectations for schools. Councilmember Rita Joseph, who chairs the Committee on Education, described the incident as "degrading" and "blatant racism." She acknowledged the employee's termination but called for a full and honest assessment of the curriculum and practices within the program.
City leaders have also expressed their concerns, leading to calls for an investigation into the FDNY's training curriculum and practices. Councilmember Joseph stated that the incident speaks to a deeper problem of racism embedded within training practices at the FDNY.
In response to the incident, the FDNY fired the employee in charge and launched an investigation. The behaviour in question is being thoroughly investigated. It is important to note that similar variations of the team-building exercise can be found online, highlighting the need for careful consideration and sensitivity in the design of such activities.
The city's education department is also calling for an investigation into the incident. The incident occurred after the city recently settled a $30 million class-action lawsuit over alleged racial and gender bias in the FDNY. This latest incident underscores the need for ongoing efforts to address and eradicate bias within the FDNY and its training programs.
As the investigations continue, it is hoped that this incident will serve as a catalyst for meaningful change and reform within the FDNY, ensuring a more inclusive and equitable environment for all participants in its training programs.
