Racism, discrimination widespread inside Houston Fire Department
Just one day after racist and sexist graffiti was found written outside the women's quarters at Fire Station 54, an emotional Fire Chief Phil Boriskie addressed another racist incident. It happened just before 7 a.m. Wednesday.
The racist message, which included the "n" word, was broadcast over the firefighters’ radio system and lasted seven to eight seconds. HFD strongly believes someone from the outside is responsible. They think someone hacked into their frequency. Whether the message originated from the outside or not, several women, who either currently work for the fire department or have since retired, say they are not surprised by the recent incidents.
“I mean, let’s be real. I didn’t come in with a blind eye to where I was working. I am at a place where it is a majority of white males,” said veteran female firefighter Vantrece Williams.
Williams says she's been harassed, but nothing was ever done about it. Mainly because she says many firefighters won’t speak out when they witness something bad taking place.
“If we want to continue being on TV with the negative images, then we just continue to be quiet,” said Williams.
11 News heard allegations of women firefighters being groped by their male co-workers, and an allegation of a male firefighter masturbating over a female co-worker while she was trying to sleep in her bed.
“You see it. It gets to the point, because nothing ever happens, that you have to pick your battles,” said Williams
During a Wednesday night press conference, two more women firefighters shared their stories about incidents that have happened within the department.
"I'm risking my life to save other lives, and I have to worry about my co-workers writing 'die'," said Houston firefighter Paula Keyes.
The other woman, Jane Draycott, said she transferred to the station after her 17-year-old daughter died in a car accident. She felt she could not face another accident scene, but wanted to serve in other ways.
"They defaced my daughter's picture and wrote 'dead' on her face, and they wrote 'die' on my face. It was a 5 x7 photograph of her sitting on my lap," said Draycott. Draycott has filed two complaints since April about incidents that happened at Station 54. She says that without resolution, the problem won't stop.
"We want to be safe at work," said Keyes.
The racist message, which included the "n" word, was broadcast over the firefighters’ radio system and lasted seven to eight seconds. HFD strongly believes someone from the outside is responsible. They think someone hacked into their frequency. Whether the message originated from the outside or not, several women, who either currently work for the fire department or have since retired, say they are not surprised by the recent incidents.
“I mean, let’s be real. I didn’t come in with a blind eye to where I was working. I am at a place where it is a majority of white males,” said veteran female firefighter Vantrece Williams.
Williams says she's been harassed, but nothing was ever done about it. Mainly because she says many firefighters won’t speak out when they witness something bad taking place.
“If we want to continue being on TV with the negative images, then we just continue to be quiet,” said Williams.
11 News heard allegations of women firefighters being groped by their male co-workers, and an allegation of a male firefighter masturbating over a female co-worker while she was trying to sleep in her bed.
“You see it. It gets to the point, because nothing ever happens, that you have to pick your battles,” said Williams
During a Wednesday night press conference, two more women firefighters shared their stories about incidents that have happened within the department.
"I'm risking my life to save other lives, and I have to worry about my co-workers writing 'die'," said Houston firefighter Paula Keyes.
The other woman, Jane Draycott, said she transferred to the station after her 17-year-old daughter died in a car accident. She felt she could not face another accident scene, but wanted to serve in other ways.
"They defaced my daughter's picture and wrote 'dead' on her face, and they wrote 'die' on my face. It was a 5 x7 photograph of her sitting on my lap," said Draycott. Draycott has filed two complaints since April about incidents that happened at Station 54. She says that without resolution, the problem won't stop.
"We want to be safe at work," said Keyes.
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- ras_menelik
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- retro_Syl
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Did every sexist, racist, bible thumping gun nut decide to move to Texas? What is it about the South?
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- unimatrix0
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Its everywhere..-
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- metalcookiesxy70
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