Jerrod Jones, a Black firefighter in Rochester, New York claims he was compelled to go to a racist get together by his supervisor, whereas on the clock. Jones was shocked when he entered the “Liberal Smashing, Splish Splash Pool Celebration.”
He instantly observed a cardboard cutout of Donald Trump on the door, Juneteenth flags displayed subsequent to buckets of hen, and small present luggage containing Hennesey and a Juneteenth commemorative cup.
He even claims that he tried to report the incident to his officers above him and nothing was completed about it. The outstanding NYC couple liable for throwing the get together insist they’re not racists and had no concept how this stuff might be offensive.
Jones is now suing the town of Rochester and the Rochester Hearth Division for $4.4 million.
May this get together have been one massive misunderstanding? Or is that this a clearly racist act that was ignored by the Rochester Hearth Division? The Shade Room investigates…
Black Fireman Suing After Being Compelled To Attend Racist-Themed Celebration Whereas On The Clock
On July 7, 2022, Jones mentioned he was on-duty with 4 different firefighters, together with his white supervisor Captain Krywy, who informed them they might be stopping off at a celebration.
Jones didn’t assume a lot of it till they bought to the get together, when he realized he was on the residence of rich NYC dentist Dr. Nicholas Nicosia. He mentioned there have been solely white individuals in attendance, making him the one Black particular person there.
Jones, nonetheless wearing his firefighter uniform, tells TSR Investigates’ Justin Carter that he was immediately uncomfortable.
The cardboard cutout of Trump and Juneteenth flags festooned round buckets of Kentucky Fried Rooster have been prominently displayed, in response to Jones’ lawsuit in opposition to his employer.
His supervisor reportedly informed firmly informed him “no photos” after handing him a present bag containing Cognac, an alcoholic beverage and racist trope generally used to demean Black Individuals, and a Juneteenth commemorative cup, in mockery of the vacation that celebrates the day when enslaved African Individuals realized of their emancipation on June 19, 1865.
“I made a decision to talk up at the moment as a result of I’ve two youngsters that possibly someday will aspire to turn out to be firefighters, and I don’t need them to expertise what I skilled. I wouldn’t need your children to need to expertise that (both)” Jones mentioned.
Jones added that there have been additionally garden indicators with photographs of Democratic lawmakers, and even a girl dancing provocatively whereas dressed up as a feminine county legislator.
Black Firefighter Informed Battalion Chief About Racist, Inappropriate Celebration, However Nothing Was Executed
His lawyer, Nate McMurray, mentioned that Jones later went to his battalion chief about it, however nothing was completed.
“When Mr. Jones went to his commanders and he mentioned ‘that is horrible, are you able to handle this? Can we deal with this?’ They assigned him to work with that very same captain the following shift!” Jones’ lawyer mentioned at a press convention this week.
In the meantime, the Nicosia’s, in an effort to clear their title, held a press convention with their lawyer on August 23. They offered photographs from the get together, nonetheless the images have been recreations and never taken on the precise occasion.
The Nicosia’s referred to as themselves victims of “cancel tradition.’
“I’m not a racist. I grew up in East Cleveland, it’s a really numerous group,” mentioned the dentist’s spouse, Mary Znidarsic-Nicosia, who claims to have been the one behind the get together’s inception. “And I doubt you might discover anybody in that group that might say that I’m (racist).”
Nevertheless, in the identical breathe, Mrs. Znidarsic-Nicosia made point out of a Twitter “parody” account that she operated.
Spouse Of Distinguished Rochester Dentist Had Racist “Parody” Twitter Account, Newspaper Finds
The Rochester Metropolis Newspaper dug up that account with its deal with being “@HoHoHomeboyROC,” and it’s profile image containing that of a smiling Black particular person.
“What dem council people been consuming? Lawdy. Have a look at dem. Days massive as barns… even dat hand girl” one tweet from June 2022 learn.
The Twitter account additionally shared racist memes, together with certainly one of a bunch of tribal African ladies holding buckets of KFC.
Znidarsic-Nicosia went on to apologize to African Individuals for the “parody” account, of which her lawyer Corey Hogan mentioned was “no query that it was racist.”
“There isn’t a query that Twitter account is racist,” mentioned lawyer Corey Hogan.
Couple’s Lawyer Makes an attempt To Clarify Away Racist Themes At Celebration
However the couple’s lawyer additionally tried to clarify away a few of the different points at hand, specifically the get together attended by Jones.
Hogan mentioned that the Nicosia’s like KFC, which is why they served it on the occasion.
“Is each one who pulls in to a KFC a racist?” Hogan went on to say.
He additionally claims that the Nicosia’s didn’t know that giving out little bottles of cognac was offensive, both, saying “a small bottle was handed out as a prize, no racism” when requested about it.
Tearful Dr. Nicosia Says His Household Has Develop into Victims Of “Automobile Honking, Obscenities” Following Racist-Themed Celebration Blunder
Actually, a tearful Dr. Nicosia even mentioned his household have turn out to be victims after individuals began “driving previous our residence, honking their horns and shouting obscenities.”
“There have been individuals driving previous our residence, honking their horns and shouting obscenities,” a tearful Dr. Nicholas Nicosia mentioned. “Even when our youngsters have been simply taking out the rubbish. We aren’t racist. You discover anybody who is aware of us, you wouldn’t discover it (racism).”
The Nicosia’s mentioned that they’ve been faraway from various boards and plenty of of their sufferers and staff have since deserted them from their dental workplace.
Jerrod Jones and his attorneys have since filed a lawsuit totaling within the quantity of over $4 million in opposition to the Metropolis of Rochester and the Rochester Hearth Division, citing emotional misery.
In the meantime, Jones’ supervisor Captain Krywy, was initially suspended pending a metropolis investigation, however finally retired earlier than these proceedings started.
TSR Investigates explores chilly circumstances and particular curiosity information tales underrepresented in mainstream media.
