* US Rep. Jonathan Jackson speaking recently the Black Fire Brigade…
Buildings in our neighborhood are boarded up because some people working in these battalions and in these fire houses used to live in these neighborhoods, and they are so angry they had to leave and they left when we came. And when there’s a fire and they go there, they watch the building burn. Go to the Northside. If you see 16 units, 25 units in a building, they go and put out the fire in the single unit. We have a fire in one unit and the whole building gets evacuated, because we didn’t have people that lived in the community that cared about the community that wanted to put the fire out. They had so much contempt they let the building burn. So to stop that level of homelessness and to stop the self-destruction, we need more Black person first responders or Black firefighters. Kudos for all that you do with the Black Fire Brigade.
* From the Chicago Fire Fighters Union…
The Executive Board of Local 2 is shocked, disheartened, angered, and disappointed to see the statements made about the members of Local 2 by Congressman Jonathan Jackson while addressing his constituents at a speaking event. These comments propagated on social media are not only patently false and maliciously divisive-they are dangerous to our membership. The Executive Board of Local 2 would like to assure our membership that we are working diligently to address this issue.
Local 2 and the [Associated Firefighters of Illinois] have officially and immediately revoked our endorsement of Congressman Jonathan Jackson. Additionally, Local 2 firmly demands Congressman Jackson publicly renounce his comments and issue our membership an apology.
Local 2 has been in contact with [Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt], and we await her response denouncing this hateful rhetoric and unwarranted attack on the Firefighters and Paramedics in which she leads. Additionally, we expect she will properly address those propagating these false statements as facts about the Chicago Fire Department and its members.
Local 2 comprises a diverse workforce dedicated to serving all communities without bias or discrimination. We take great pride in our commitment to inclusivity and professionalism in all aspects of our work.
Local 2 will certainly hold any member disseminating these abhorrent statements, slandering their brothers and sisters, fully accountable to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chicago Fire Fighters Union.
We thank all of you for your hard work and commitment to the City of Chicago and its citizens.
*** UPDATE *** This statement does not include an apology…
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 8:34 am:
what prompted his comments? at a place which encourages and trains future fire fighters.
wow. Incendiary the appropriate word choice.
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 8:37 am:
I wish this Jackson would just stick with something along the lines of his other family members’ peccadilloes instead of talking like Bizarro World Eric Adams. At least that way he’d be out of office faster.
- TNR - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 8:47 am:
The Chicago Fire Department is not without its problems — some of them involving race. But there are dozens of white firefighters who have lost their lives running into burning buildings on the South and West Sides. Shame on Jackson. He should apologize immediately and maybe law a wreath at the firefighters memorial.
- Just Another Anon - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 8:49 am:
More attention seeking behavior from Congress. Just what the American people need….
- The Truth - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 8:50 am:
Pretty insane strategy by Rep. Jackson to not just imply, but flat-out say firefighters purposely let buildings burn because they’re in Black neighborhoods.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 9:00 am:
This reminds me of a meme I saw which said something like,
“ Nobody protests louder than a narcissist being accused of something he definitely did do.”
Look, this belief ( that the fire department lets buildings burn in parts of the city ) didn’t come ex nihilo.
I’m not a public relations person but I think saying something like
“The firefighters union is extremely saddened and concerned by the perception that we only fight for certain zip codes. We would welcome the chance to openly and transparently challenge that perception in a publicly held forum. After which were certain that the congressman and public will be assured that we fight every fire as if it were our own home. But the public’s misperception is on us and we will do everything we can to earn the trust of Chicago residents back.”
I don’t think the reactionary ego wounded toddler reaction is going to heal the rift.
I think you just confirmed it.
- Time Is Up - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 9:04 am:
Tensions regarding race relations are hot in the firefighters right now. They pulled support for the mayors tax initiative. As a result a lot of the Black members shared their displeasure and were quickly reprimanded.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 9:05 am:
At best, it’s pandering to the audience. At worst, it’s implying that white firefighters don’t care about the community they work in.
- Nope. - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 9:06 am:
Remember Rep. Monique Davis and the roving bands of detectives killing children? Politicians have been yucky like this a long time.
- Duck Duck Goose - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 9:07 am:
It doesn’t seem like it would be that hard for someone to look at the data to compare building losses between neighborhoods. If the representative is right, and there are more losses in minority neighborhoods than white ones, it would be interesting to know why.
- Steve - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 9:21 am:
It would be nice if more politicians thought before they spoke. If Rep. Jackson has empirical data , please show it. If not , I’d hope he remembers Chicago Firefighers take incredible risks that most of us can’t even imagine. An apology would be a very good thing.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 9:28 am:
=It doesn’t seem like it would be that hard for someone to look at the data to compare building losses between neighborhoods.=
Shouldn’t that be the responsibility of Jonathan Jackson? He wouldn’t have made the comment unless he was certain the facts supported him. Would he?
- Charles Edward Cheese - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 9:29 am:
I don’t understand what prompted these comments, was this a fight that needed to be picked at this moment? Were there any recent racially charged incidents within the Chicago Fire Department or is this more about the history of deliberate disinterest / disinvestment in certain communities?
- Mr Ed - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 9:30 am:
Congressman Jackson’s Dad, Reverend Jesse Jackson was instrumental in solving the Chicago Firemans strike in 1979 which would have destroyed Local 2 if not settled with Jackson’s help. He was a big supporter of the Firemen and Local 2 then.
- ElTacoBandito - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 10:02 am:
I know a good amount of Chicago firefighters whose racial views would be questionable at best, but I also know they are consummate professionals who take their jobs and the lives of those they protect very seriously.
Pretty lame to try and raise the group in front of you by tearing down another group for no good reason.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 10:18 am:
Interesting timing with the American Burn Association national conference happening in Chicago this week.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 10:24 am:
Oh the pearl clutching on this one. Yes, Jackson is saying the quiet part out loud. I commend him for his bravery.
Local 2 statement is no surprise to me since they’ve declared their mindset by joining with FOP lodge 7 in supporting Vallas.
That mindset being, policing and firefighting depends on your zip code.
Go ahead, look at the data and try to prove me wrong.
Go ahead, speak to the experience of those neighborhoods about the kind of police and fire protection they get.
- regular democrat - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 10:29 am:
Politicians have been yucky? are you kidding me? Ignorant and racist comes to mind. I could go on but not on this forum. Go the ALL the firehouses on the south and west sides and note the complexion of the fireman working at these locations. This is the most outrageous thing I have ever heard form an elected official ever. Its way beyond yucky
- Skokie Man - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 10:39 am:
@Honeybear… “Go ahead, look at the data and try to prove me wrong.”
That’s generally not how such things work. It isn’t particularly persuasive to (1) claim that firefighters let some buildings burn based on racial resentment; (2) provide zero examples or data; then (3) tell the world “prove me wrong!”.
If Jackson or you can support this claim, I would welcome the opportunity to learn more about this topic.
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 10:49 am:
As usual, Honeybear makes a good point.
- ??? - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 10:57 am:
==I don’t think the reactionary ego wounded toddler reaction is going to heal the rift.==
Neither will accusations like these. Do you know if Jackson approached the group for a private meeting to discuss his concerns BEFORE spouting off and painting all white firefighters with the same smeary brush?
- vern - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 11:04 am:
=== Local 2 will certainly hold any member disseminating these abhorrent statements, slandering their brothers and sisters, fully accountable ===
Pulling the endorsement from Jackson makes sense given his statements. But the section I quoted seems aimed at the Black Fire Brigade. Local 2 should be a lot more open to this critique if it’s actually being articulated by black firefighters.
- Google Is Your Friend - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 11:06 am:
Here’s a thought–what do Black firefighters in Chicago think of how their White colleagues treat different communities in the city? After all, Rep. Jackson was speaking to an audience of Black firefighters. My dad was a Chicago firefighter and I certainly think he would’ve agreed with Rep. Jackson’s comments.
- Frida’s boss - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 11:25 am:
Ald. Jeanette Taylor said in statements last week, that white people get test answers for promotion and blacks have to study, plus whites get new equipment and blacks get used equipment. Also present Ald Dowell and Robinson and Miller.
- Philly T - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 11:43 am:
@Honeybear you’re not offering any data or facts, or even anecdotes. Very Trumpian of you…”many people are saying.”
Seems to me that there is a lot of empirical data about racism in the fire department, like the hiring and promotional statistics. Why not just stick to that rather than making things up about firefighters letting buildings burn? And it’s one thing for a blog poster to engage in conspiracy theories. It’s inexcusable for a congressman to do it.
- 1st District voter - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 11:57 am:
I was more than willing to give Jackson a chance. He couldn’t be any worse than my former Congressman Bobby Rush in constituent service outside the city. I am appalled at his comments because they simply are not true.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 12:27 pm:
whether Jackson or someone posting a comment, show us the evidence. please. because if there is a problem, we certainly want it to be fixed. and you do to. and if there is not evidence supporting the comments, another kind of problem has been created.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 12:28 pm:
==Go ahead, speak to the experience of those neighborhoods about the kind of police and fire protection they get.==
I can guarantee you that nobody is sitting there letting a building burn because it’s a “black” building. That’s just absurd and it’s despicable and insulting that you would agree with such an asinine statement from the Representative. You should be ashamed of yourself.
- Duck Duck Goose - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 12:32 pm:
=It doesn’t seem like it would be that hard for someone to look at the data to compare building losses between neighborhoods.=
=Shouldn’t that be the responsibility of Jonathan Jackson?=
Probably. But it turns out that, in a debate, both sides are allowed to use facts. This seems like an argument that could be easily put to bed with empirical data. Either there are greater building losses in minority neighborhoods, or there aren’t. If there aren’t, then Jackson stepped in it. If there are, then he raised a point that deserves at least some discussion.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 12:41 pm:
=Either there are greater building losses in minority neighborhoods, or there aren’t.=
That responsibility squarely falls on Jackson particularly since he provided a very dubious anecdote.
“Buildings in our neighborhood are boarded up because some people working in these battalions and in these fire houses used to live in these neighborhoods, and they are so angry they had to leave and they left when we came. And when there’s a fire and they go there, they watch the building burn.”
The fact that he walked back these comments tells me that he was simply trying to get a reaction but feeding a perception. But more importantly even if we acknowledge there is some truth to his remarks isn’t it his job as an elected official to do something about the problem?
- Jocko - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 1:09 pm:
==I sincerely did not mean to offend==
Really? Then why say “They (firefighters who used to live in the neighborhood) had so much contempt they let the building burn.”?
- Da big bad wolf - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 1:09 pm:
=== Shouldn’t that be the responsibility of Jonathan Jackson? He wouldn’t have made the comment unless he was certain the facts supported him.===
Yes he should have supplied the data that would have supported his statement. The words of Local 2 unwittingly created a Streisand effect. Duck Duck Goose is right. At this point the smartest course of action would be for Local 2 would be to supply the proof themselves.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 1:19 pm:
=== Then why say “They (firefighters who used to live in the neighborhood) had so much contempt they let the building burn.”? ===
Exactly.
===The words of Local 2 unwittingly created a Streisand effect===
lol
That woulda come out sooner or later on its own. It was all over Facebook. Plus, they have a right to defend their members.
===Yes, Jackson is saying the quiet part out loud. I commend him for his bravery.===
Oh, please. In his follow-up, he admitted he was basing his comments on stuff from decades ago. He also commended all firefighters for currently operating with “pure intentions.”
We see this knee-jerk defensiveness a lot when White people make or defend racist comments/actions. It’s truly a weird thing to watch because it’s obvious the person who made the comments is gonna have to walk them back and leave their defenders out on a limb.
Just another lesson that nobody will learn.
- Strannik - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 1:19 pm:
There were a lot of people in the comments wondering why Jackson would say something like that. I covered the West Side of Chicago for over eight years, and if I was at that meeting, I wouldn’t have been surprised at all. The sentiment isn’t unusual in Black communities. Black firefighters complaining about racism isn’t unusual. Complaints that firefighters take longer to respond to 911 calls in communities like Austin than in Oak Park aren’t unusual. Jackson was talking to an African American crowd where a lot of people probably agreed with some or all of what he was saying, and he knew it. He just didn’t think that, in the age when most of us carry portable recording and broadcasting devices in our pockets, his remarks might get broadcast far beyond his intended audience.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 1:20 pm:
===At this point the smartest course of action would be for Local 2 would be to supply the proof themselves. ===
They don’t have to because Jackson fully walked back his comment.
Sheesh, people.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 1:22 pm:
===isn’t it his job as an elected official to do something about the problem?===
Not if he’s in it for the show biz aspect.
- Nobody's Fool - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 1:23 pm:
Everybody knows that Local 2 joined FOP Lodge 7 and most of the building trades in the angry white guy coalition a long time ago. Good luck convincing anybody otherwise. They should stick to their shrinking NW/SW Side enclaves and leave the big boys alone.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 1:24 pm:
===leave the big boys alone===
And who, pray tell, are the “big boys” you speak of?
- just because - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 1:46 pm:
No firefighter Black white or latino is going to stand and watch a building burn if it can be saved safely. The definitely will risk their lives if people are inside. That is the job. It does not matter where they live, it is their calling to fight fires. While promotion and hiring practices for minorities in the fire service is not where it should be. It certainly has made strides in recent years. Look who their current leader is.. a black woman! The union did right to pull their endorsement. NO ONE should question the dedication of these brave men and women.
- northsider (the original) - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 2:24 pm:
None of the present-day firefighters “used to live in those buildings”. Maybe their grandparents, or their parents as kids.
- DMC - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 3:13 pm:
Stop identity politics. Does nothing.
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 3:24 pm:
===Does nothing===
Except to further divide.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 4:36 pm:
I’m pretty sure the union will invoke the “no takebacks” clause.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 4:40 pm:
Wow. Can’t really say anything different from what everyone else said, but that’s bad. So so so bad.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 5:05 pm:
“Not if he’s in it for the show biz aspect.”
It runs in the family…
- Google Is Your Friend - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 5:57 pm:
==Local 2 comprises a diverse workforce dedicated to serving all communities without bias or discrimination. We take great pride in our commitment to inclusivity and professionalism in all aspects of our work.==
This is a flat out lie. Local 2 consistently opposed not only the Albrecht Decree (which was only dissolved two years ago). It also supported multiple so-called “reverse discrimination” claims by white firefighters but has never supported a racial discrimination claim by a Black firefighter.
- Suburban guy - Wednesday, Apr 10, 24 @ 7:34 pm:
@Honeybear Go watch firefighters work at a fire in the south or west side compared to the Northside, and you’ll understand that you couldn’t be more wrong
I’m a firefighter in the suburbs, and did a ride along with the fire company in a black neighborhood in the Southside. We caught a fire, and I have never seen fireman run to the rigs faster, driver faster to the fire, fight the fire more aggressively, and put the fire out faster. I was blown away.
They give every fire everything they have everytime, and you can’t say the same for the firefighters that work in the areas that they live in.