Rally on Saturday 2/16/08

Celebrate Black History Month!
Support Our Local Firefighters!!!

Where: Engine Company #30
49th & Central Ave, NE

When: Saturday, February 16th 2008
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 noon

WHY?

Our brave firefighters who put their lives on the line every day are being subjected to racist, sexist and homophobic attacks, led by officers fostering a hostile work environment and disrespecting our community.
Jim Crow must be erased from the White House to the Fire Department headquarters!
DC Fire Department is facing a crisis of leadership, where racist, sexist and homophobic statements are not only tolerated but promoted by the leadership of Engine 30, fostering actions that negatively affect morale, such as:
· A Black lieutenant who is being reprimanded for stopping to fight a life-threatening fire that made him late for a training session;
· a hit list of Black officers with leadership abilities and skills being circulated in the department;
· White firefighters on ambulances who don’t want to touch infirm black residents;
· Firefighters who use excessive force when fighting fires in our neighborhoods causing great damage to our homes;Keeping white officers who display openly racist, sexist, homophobic and generally abusive attitudes and behaviors that endanger firefighters under their command, like Lt. R. Lehan; Firefighters who are under medical treatment for severe stress and depression resulting from abuse on the job;

We want racist officers in Firehouse 30 to resign their posts immediately and to leave our neighborhood!
Our firefighters are bearing the weight, but their fight is OUR fight!!!
Friends, Neighbors, you can helpby:
· Checking out our blog at Abolishracism.blogspot.com
· Joining E.R.A.S.E. – End Racism And Stop Exploitation committee.;
The committee, E.R.A.S.E. is a community-based organization of taxpayers, clergy and members of the middle and working class whose understanding of the historical facts around racism and its effects on our community has forced the group to come together to do what it can to minimize or neutrallize the effects of racism on our community. We understand the economic, social and political implications of ideas that will demonize non-white people to favor a white supremacist nation. In its name, E.R.A.S.E. embodies our identification of the cause for racism to exist, and that is to exploit its victim and create an atmosphere whereby people of white descent can maintain a social, political and economic advantage or upper-hand over those who are not defined as white. It is understood that these ideas of racism which are based on ignorance and anti-social deviant behavior are represented by a very small group of Europeans. Therefore, we call on ALL people to ERASE this scourge from its institutionally based support system in order to make this country whole and just!!

Call the councilmembers below and demand they look into this situation!! Mayor Fenty has said his hands are tied by the process and chain of command! We must let him know that our justice cannot wait, they will be heard!
Chairman Vincent Gray, 724-8032
At-Large Councilmember Kwame Brown, 724-8174
At-large Councilmember Phil Mendelson, 724-8064
Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander 724-8068
Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry, 724-8076
Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, 724-8076
ANC7D05 Commissioner Rick Tingling-Clemmons, 397.2277
Help E.R.A.S.E. Break the Jaws of Racism!

For more information or to help:
erase-racism@hotmail.com