A State Supreme Court Judge has ruled that Buffalo discriminated against 13 white firefighters who were passed over for promotions.
There's only one thing that makes you fit for the firehouse says Buffalo Firefighter Gene Margerum.
"You want the highest trained, most qualified guy showing up, not someone who's getting a paycheck," he said.
So Margerum hit the books, studying for two years to become a lieutenant. He passed the test, but never got promoted. According to court documents, that's because of the color of his skin.
"I know what it's like to be discriminated against now, and it hurts and it makes you angry," he said.
So what happened? According to court papers, the city let the promotions list expire so it could promote more African American firefighters. That list is the subject of a federal lawsuit claiming it discriminates against women and minorities. The city's attorney, Adam Perry, says that's why Buffalo needs to address the issue of racial imbalance in the fire department.
2007-10-29
16:47:31
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9 answers
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canam
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Law & Ethics