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CITY OF ATLANTA
8 August 1969
Memorandum Regarding ps sice a mes gm AGRE NS Black eageiien Of Atlanta
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» Tos . Mayor Ivan Allen, Chairman Board of Firemasters, Alderman Wm. T.
ity _ Knight and Atlanta Fire Chief Paul O. Williams ‘
From: Black Firemen of Atlanta
The Black firefighters of Atlanta are dual casa municipal employees,. ;
concerned with the safety and welfare of our city and all of its citizens. -
During the years of our tenure as firemen we have been subjected to dis--
crimination and abuses as outlined below. We request that immediate.
action be taken to correct these practices, and that on or before Monday, -
August 18, 1969 that we receive a formal report on your ‘actions in corrette__
ing the actions cited herein: }
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I. HIRING PRACTICES Ae a eee s . |
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The ratio of Black Firemen to White Firemen -does not correspond
to the population of Black citizens in Atlanta. There are about 90 to
100 - Black Firemen in a department of more than 900 men. Black Eiremen
II. SEGREGATED SLEEPING & LOCKER SEE NGEMENTS
Lockers and beds of Black Firemen are placed in the back or away
from the white firemen.
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III. RECREATION CLUB
The membership was “osed the year R
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1963. Land was given to the club by the gover
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IV. PROMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATION \© q Peter Do )
Black Firemen should be included in ‘every department. White fire= os !
men with less time and experience are promoted-to-driver-posttions. Black
Firemen with 5 and 6 years should be promoted to Lieutenants, because the
entire officer cabinet is made up of all white officers. Most of these
officers have been known_tofexrce—their-prejudices on Black Firemen. We
—are aware of the test for Lieutenants, but in a time of an emergency men
have been promoted wholesale from private to captains within a year, thus_
setting proper precedent. We consider this an emergency-because of the
overall discrimination in the department. 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 captain'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. EXPERIENCE AND LENGTH OF TIME ON THE DEPARTMENT
Acting officers, we feel that every Black Firemen with the time
and experience, equal to ary white firemen, should be.given the opportunity.
to be an acting officer. This applies to extra drivers. House duties
should be picked according to seniority. ao AS rpeqop Fume C45 ‘
VI. STANDARD SET OF RULES FOR ALL C. INS
Each shift is operated different, captain authority has no limit.
He forces personal prejudices on Black Firemen. Transfer of men to other °
stations. | | | Chil Aurdet, Ye Arle
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FOR CONTACT: Fireman William Hamer
195 Hermer Circle, N. W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30311
Blephone - 794-2244 aos
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Fire Station 16 on C Shift
Telephone 523-5786