* 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…