Rally Press Release

Community Group E.R.A.S.E. Calls Rally – Fight Racism in DCFD
End Racism And Stop Exploitation, E.R.A.S.E., Demands City Honor Its Brave Firefighters by Ending Racist Abuse in Fire Department

E.R.A.S.E., End Racism And Stop Exploitation, a group of taxpayers, lawyers, firefighters, faith and community leaders have come together to address institutionally supported racism in our midst, with the understanding of its history and its affect on people who are not white; and have pledged to work towards its eradication, to "crack the jaws of racism" in the words of abolitionist John Brown. DC's Fire Department is infested by the rankest, most primitive 'Jim Crow'-type racism, theft, graft, disrespect and downright criminal gangster-type behavior, along with racist, sexist and homophobic remarks and behavior that has thoroughly tarnished the brave hard work and tradition bestowed on firefighters

Our city's administration and its fire department leadership are all complicit in sustaining and nurturing this deadly culture of racism, intimidation and exploitation within the DCFD. E.R.A.S.E. has brought its concerns down to the Wilson building because a number of attempts to bring the concerns of the citizens to the city administration concerning the malfunctioning and embarrassment of the Fire Department because of a few bad apples – starting with leadership and sprinkled throughout the agency – have resulted in no more than a few weak "I will investigate" responses and the Mayor insulting us by saying "my hands are tied" and he can't do anything about the situation. This is an abuse of the public trust and wholesale disrespect to the taxpayers, said E.R.A.S.E. E.R.A.S.E. has vowed to continue to fight this holy war against the infidels until justice is achieved.

E.R.A.S.E. and our community demands that the Mayor and/or City Council take action in support of our firefighters and citizens. We demand the following actions:



· We call for a judicial review,

· We demand the establishment of a Citizen's Review Board;

· We request a Congressional inquiry;

· We call for you to get Lt. Lehan – the Godfather – out of our neighborhood; and, finally

· Get non-residents Fire Chief Denis Rubin and his deputies out of our community!



The rally will be held on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 12:00 noon. For more information on E.R.A.S.E. and the allegations, visit our blog at abolishracism.blogspot.com. E.R.A.S.E. can be reached at erase-racism@hotmail.com.