Firefighter flag fight draws in ACLU

Herald Link

Published Friday, September 28, 2001, NICOLE WHITE nwhite@herald.com

The president of the Miami chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has asked Miami-Dade Fire Chief R. David Paulison to clarify the events that led to the suspension of three firefighters last week.

Firefighters James Moore, William Clark and Terry Williams were suspended with pay Sept. 20 amid allegations they had refused to ride on a fire engine bearing the U.S. flag.

All three maintain that while they consider the U.S. flag a symbol of oppression for black Americans, they said they objected to riding the truck out of Station 26 in Opa-locka on Sept. 15 because the flag obstructed their view. And, they say, their objection did not keep them from performing their duties.

ACLU President Lida Rodriguez-Taseff said her office crafted a letter to the chief after being approached by several community groups expressing concern about the treatment of the firefighters.

``We are very concerned that in this time of national crisis and this very important time in our nation that all issues of diversity and patriotism be addressed in sensitive and respectful ways,'' Rodriguez-Taseff said.

Among the questions the group would like answered: Was there a policy in place Sept. 15 requiring that fire trucks be fitted with flags? Did the firefighters object to the placement of the flag because it obstructed their view? Did the supervisor ever say that the firefighters refused to ride the truck because they are Muslims?

A similar letter was issued by the group Brothers of the Same Mind, which has asked the chief to reinstate the men while the investigation continues.

Brothers of the Same Mind also asked Paulison to issue a directive stating clearly that no firefighter or member of the general public shall be discriminated against or targeted for retribution due to race, ethnicity, religion or political opinion. The group also wants the Fire Department to institute a policy divorcing employment requirements from religious and/or political persuasion in order to protect firefighters from this type of dilemma in the future.

Miami-Dade Fire Department spokesman Louie Fernandez said the chief had not yet made a decision on the future of the three firefighters.

The ACLU, Brothers of the Same Mind and a coalition of other groups will host a peace rally at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Torch of Friendship in Downtown Miami.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001