Box 1, Folder 14, Document 24

Box 1, Folder 14, Document 24

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CITY OF ATLANTA
8 August 1969

Memorandum Regarding Deseeinine tion Aged Black Perenen Of Atlanta

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»To: Mayor Ivan Allen, Chairman Board of Firemasters, Alderman_vim. .T.
sree _ Knight and Atlanta Fire Chief Paul 0. Williams ~~ mae
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From: Black Firemen of Atlanta : = s

The Black firefighters of Atlanta are dedicated municipal employees, i
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 se ee eS ems n ;

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The ratio of Black Firemen to White Firemen 46K not correspond:
——to the population of Black citizens in Atlanta. There are about 90 to
100 Black Firemen in a caper ment of more than 900 men. Black- Firemen




II. SEGREGATED SLEEPING & LOCKER ARRANGEMENTS

Lockers and beds of Black Firemen are Stace in the back or away
éxom the white firemen.

III. RECREATION CLUB



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The membership was closed the vear Black Firemen were hi

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1963. Land was given to the club by the governne t on Lake ALlatoons ae 13 acres
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IV. PROMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATION © =)

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Black Firemen should be included in every department. White fires
men with less time and experience are promoted: to driver-positions. “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 s have been known—-to_force—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 i
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 aE
the chiefs dominated the list. Some of these Lieutenants didn't place in .
the top 40 on the Lieutenants list. Now they are captains.

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V. EXPERIENCE AND LENGTH OF TIME ON THE DEPARTMENT

Acting officers, we feel that every Black Firemen with the time
and experience, equal to any. 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. Gq iS neo -

VI. STANDARD SET OF RULES FOR ALL C INS

Each shift is operated different, captain authority has no limit. :
He forces personal presudieds on Black Firemen. Transfer of men to other °

stations. : hi p prt, te Aprhe.
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FOR CONTACT: Fireman William Hamer “1 aa vi?

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195 Hermer Circle, N. W. so ec
Atlanta, Georgia 30311 ..- ‘'*™ cig
Blephone - 794-2244 we, -N
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- Fire Station 16 on C Shift ice
Telephone 523-5786