HOUSTON ACTIVISTS CALL FOR FIRING IN NOOSE INCIDENT

Houston activists call for firing in noose incident
By Jesse Muhammad
Staff Writer

HOUSTON (FinalCall.com) - A coalition of Black organizations is refusing to let the noose incident involving a White Houston Fire Department captain go away silently.

Deloyd Parker (right) speaks as Deric Muhammad holds a blown up photo of the actual noose when it was found in the locker. Seated are (l-r) HPD Sergeant Shelby Stewart, retired firefighter Alvin James, and attorney Sadiyah Evangelista-Rose. Behind them is a protestor holding up an article regarding a HFD cadet who was fired last year from having a noose. Photo: Jesse Muhammad
Over 50 people gathered at a protest to send a message to Houston Mayor Bill White on behalf of the Houston Black Firefighters Association (HBFA).

“We have been sitting and waiting to see what our mayor would do and to see what city council would do,” said activist Deric Muhammad at a May 7 press conference. “These discriminatory acts inside the Houston Fire Department must stop. We are here to let the mayor know we are angry and we want this captain's badge today.”

Earlier this year one of the members of HBFA, Jesse O'Quinn, discovered a hangman's noose at Houston Fire Station 41, located on the Houston's east side. The noose was found hanging in a White captain's partially open locker door. After spotting it, Mr. O'Quinn reported it to the assistant fire chief only to be reprimanded for not following the chain of command.

“One man brings a noose to the Houston Fire Department, another man reports it and they receive the same reprimand. Something is wrong with this picture,” said Mr. Muhammad.

To date the captain who had the noose in his locker has only received a written reprimand and retired Black firefighter Alvin James of the HBFA stated that “a written reprimand is like a slap on the hand. You get those when you're late for work.”

According to Mr. James, a cadet was fired last year for having a noose and he believes the captain should be also. “Justice and punishment should be equal. If you fire a cadet for doing something like that, punishment should be done to that captain, you can't show any favoritism.”

Mr. James also stated that this type of racism has been going on in the department for a long time but “many Blacks inside are too afraid to speak out. There is a lot of racism going on and has been for a long time. It's tough.”

“We want this captain fired now. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated,” said activist Deloyd Parker, who directs the Self-Help for African People Through Education (SHAPE) community center in Houston. “We're calling on the mayor first because he is supposed to be the leader of this city.”

“There was discipline, there was an investigation, we have done a much better job of having the senior leadership of the fire department and fire union reflect the workforce of this city,” Mayor White told ABC local news.

A statement released by the Houston Fire Department on the same day as the press conference echoed the Mayor's stance.

“There has been an investigation of this event by the department and the employee involved received disciplinary action in the form of a reprimand. Punishment is based on the facts of the individual case,” read the statement. The HFD report also said they were aware of the “sensitivity of managing issues” relating to “symbols of hatred or objects that could be construed as symbols of hate.”

“This is a form of terrorism,” yelled one protester. “How can you expect a person to perform their job under this kind of stress? This is a part of the continued psychological damage done to our people.”

Other speakers and supporters included Houston Police Department Sergeant Shelby Stewart of the Black Officers for Justice, attorney Sadiyah Evangelista-Rose, National Black United Front, the Nation of Islam, the Millions More Movement Ministry of Justice and the Texas Death Penalty Abolishment Movement.