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., CITY OF ATLANTA 8 August 1969 , . Memorandum Regarding Discrimination .Against Black Fir emen Of Atlanta . -- ~ '· . Mayor Ivan Allen, Chairman Board of Firemaster s-, Alderma-r-k...\'lm. :·.r • Knight and Atlanta Fire Chief Paul O•. Williams . --.. ~ . . .___·. ......_,__ -· . . . Black Firemen of Atlanta

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.. To: ··-- - -'" · --· From: / ·-. -- " The Black firefighters of Atlanta are dedicated municipal emplo{eei, \ concerned wi th the safety and welfare of our city and all of its citizens ; ·During the years of our tenure as f iremen we hav& been subjected to dis- ·· · crimination and abuses as outlined below. We request that imrre clia te _

action be taken to correct these practices, and that on or before Mond~, \ August 18, 1969 that we receive a formal report on your 1fc.:t io·ns in corre~ ' ing the act ions cited herein: , -~ / \ · . . :. .·-.. . . 1 I. HIRING PRACTICES .. _=--:::--=- ~ - - r \ :;~11,; . , -~ . -- - The ratio of Black Firemen to White Firemen does not - ~ to the· popu lation of Black citizens in Atlanta. There -.. . a re. . . about 90 to 100 Black Firemen in a department of more than 900 men. Black·-Eiremen that are drafted into the armed servic~s are rep.laced by sthi te firemen II. SEGREGATED SLEEPING & LOCKER AQ.RANGEMENTS J Lockers and beds of Black Firemen are placed in the back or away frcm the whit e firemen. III. RECREATION CLUB _,._..=--,~_ ·__ .l.963 . N. Y-~

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ci dCZ>n d - ' ~· ~ The membership was clos ed the vear Black Firemen were hired in Land was given to th e club by the governm:l\t_ ~~ , Lake Allatoona. )_13 acres) .( ~ -4N-~ h0 ~ ~ ~ ° ' - ) 1 PROMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATION ~ ~ . ~1 ~:;;tt;_ . - i Black Firemen should be included in every department. White ,fil$~ -a,- i• r.1en with less time and experience are promoted· to -dr-:i-ve-r po sit1on s .~ --d l ack Firer.ien with 5 and 6 years should be promoted to Lieutenants-;-·- beca use the entire officer cabi net is mad e up of all white officers. Most of these off i c er s have _b e e o k.n.o-wr:1-t-G-£.0 r c e t l=\-e-i-r--p-r-ejtta'rc-e-s-on- B"'l-a ck Firemen • We ar-e aware· of the test for Lieut.e nants, but in a time of an emergency men

have been promoted wholesale from private to captains within a year, thus_ i setting proper precedent. We consider this an er.1ergeJ)_cy .-hec-atrse--o-f tne overall discrimination in the depa rtm ent. White drivers are giving up their positions because they know future Lieutenants are going to be appointed by Chiefs. · This is true because in the last capt ain's test the aides of all the chiefs dominated the list. Some of these Lieutenants didn't place in the top 40 on the Lieutenants list. Now they are captains. \ V. EXP!:RIENCE AND LENGTH OF Tir.1E ON THE DEPARTMENT Acting offi cers, we feel th at every Black Firemen with _the time and experience, equal to any . white firemen, should be.given the opportunity to be an ac~ing office~: This ap~li:s tol°;ra driverse House d~ies should be picked according to seniority. ~ 1 /·S ,)-f2rvyJ f,../-,v. ~ ) VI. STAtJDARD SET OF RULES FOR ALL C INS ~ich shift is operated different, captain authority has no limit. He forc es personal prejudices on Black Firemen. Transfer of ~en to other stations. ( ~ ~~ ~ FOR CONTACT: Fireman William Harner 195 Hermer Circle, N. W. Atlanta, Georgia 30311 ________ elephone - 794- 2244 __ __ . or ----Fire Station 16 on C Shift Telephone 523-5786 • ~ fi9 ~ /1 P1_ Iv 7 1~ A .--~- I • I . = r cilf ____ _.,., L. �