Racism Running Rampant in Rush

Racism Running Rampant in Rush

“Hang his ass,” said by Rush Volunteer Firefighter Doug Watson about Rochester City Councilmember Adam McFadden; community members voice concern/anger via press release

 

On February 23 screenshots of Doug Watson’s social media posts came to the attention of people of color and anti-racist activists in Rochester, NY. Rush volunteer firefighter Doug Watson made the public comment “Hang his ass” during a live streamed press conference of prosecutors laying our their criminal complaint against Rochester City Councilmember Adam McFadden.

 

Many people sent emails, letters, Facebook messages and posts calling for accountability. Christopher Coles sent this letter demanding an explanation and was responded to after a lengthy delay:

“Hello and good morning,

“One of your servicemen Doug Watson has been quoted to sayin “hang his ass.” About a Black Rochester Elected official. This took place in an open forum.

“This certainly doesn’t reflect great customer service and an open attitude as it pertains to servicing the public.

“If my house were on fire, would the color of my skin.. keep it ablaze?? Is this the attitude that the whole of the department shares?? Surely this can’t be the official stance of the Rush Volunteer Fire department?

“I’m on my way to media... but before this takes place I’d like to ask what’s the official stance of Your department and your company mission statement?

“If I had my way... I would love to Recommend that this individual Doug Watson be terminated.. and not employed by your station ... or any station in the Rush, West Henrietta, or City of Rochester fire stations. His views and references to Racial Terror, provide danger to the public, and create a woeful mistrust of our most valued servicemen who we most trust in our precious moments of peril. I am available at any time for any correspondence.

“Thank you

“Christopher Coles - Concerned Citizen.”

 

The Town stated that they were conducting an investigation after the initial emails were sent.

 

In a related matter, retired New York State police officer and the former Rush Fire Chief Robert Faugh (photo to the left), made a comment about the letters coming into the town, that was inadvertently forwarded to another concerned citizen. His comment is below:

"Some one better straighten these losers out. Doug Watson responds and assist whoever needs help and doesn't care what color or religion  they are just like all the rest of us. These people that cry RACE bull shit is getting old. wheres this long history that this jerks talks about? No one keep Blacks from joining the fire dept. maybe they just don't have that "help you fellow man for no pay"  gene, I don't know. ?"

 

The institutional racism denied by Faugh above, who is angry at concerned people calling out the institutional racism of Rush’s volunteer fire department and the individual racism of one of its volunteers, is seen as invalid and out of line because “no one keeps Blacks from joining the fire dept.” In his response above, he questions the genetic disposition of people of color to engage in volunteer firefighting work (an age-old segregationist myth–that people of color and white people are so genetically different that people of color must have come from an inferior genetic ancestor) and denies the racist history of the United States–a history older than the nation. Watson knows better than to call for the lynching or death of a white politician, but he feels it’s acceptable to do so when the public figure is Black.

 

Recently Dr. Angela Y. Davis spoke at the University of Buffalo. She said, “We are deeply

entrenched in the afterlife of slavery. The violence of racism continues unabated.” The reality is that the structures and institutions in operation today were formed to maintain a white supremacist type of law and order and social order, during an era when a Black person was unable to vote or own land and was considered ⅗ of a person. White people need to take a step back and take a hard look at these institutions today. Who is profiting, who is in charge, and why is there a need for equal opportunity policies? Watson's words and Faugh’s response aren't born in a vacuum.

 

Do Watson’s words and Faugh’s response have an impact on the safety of Black people in our community? Absolutely! Studies show that Black people are treated differently by first responders. In general, Black people’s pain is underestimated and undertreated, and EMT's respond faster and more thoroughly to white patients. When a first responder in our community publicly portrays his hatred of Black people, it is concerning to say the least, and it is unacceptable to learn that this hatred is condoned by his colleagues. Make no mistake: to tolerate such hatred is to put our Black neighbors in danger. We also have to recognize that Black people who work as first responders are also vulnerable to racist attacks and backlash by their white counterparts, as happened in 2016 with a Black, volunteer firefighter in North Tonawanda, NY.

 

On March 13, concerned individuals got notice from Duane Fanning, President of the Rush Fire Department via email that

read:

 

“The Rush Fire Department Inc. investigated the matter of Douglas Watson, per the Fire Departments By-Laws. New York State Law prohibits the release of personnel information.

“The Board of Directors also re affirmed the following to all personnel;

“The Rush Fire Department does not, under any circumstances, agree with, sanction or authorize its members who:

 “Make any disparaging or false statements or use profane language.

 “Make any statements or other forms of speech that ridicule, malign, disparage or otherwise express bias against any race, religion or protected class of individual.

“Do not make it clear that they are expressing their own personal opinion.”

 

The public relations effort above is a start. It needs to be followed by intensive anti-racist training, public apologies, and a commitment and action steps to root out institutional and individual racism within the Town government and its corps of first responders.

 

Concerned community members demand that:

1. Doug Watson be immediately fired for his comments provoking Racial Terror!
2. Doug Watson and Robert Faugh issue apologies for their egregious, racist statements!
3. The Town of Rush must issue a public statement denouncing the individual and institutional racism within the Rush Volunteer Fire Department and issue action steps it will take!
4. The Town government as well as its first responders must participate in intensive anti-racism training IMMEDIATELY!

 

Activists are urging folks to contact the town board and make their demands heard.

Cathleen Frank, Town Supervisor supervisor@townofrush.com

Rita McCarthy, Councilwoman & Deputy Supervisor rita@townofrush.com

Gerry Kusse, Councilman gerald@townofrush.com

Daniel Woolaver, Councilman danw@townofrush.com

Jillian Coffey, Councilwoman jillian@townofrush.com

 

References:

1. Doug Watson’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/doug.watson.1297)
2. Bob Faugh’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/robert.faugh)
3. “Firefighter receives racist threatening letter” (https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/firefighter-receives-racist-threatening-letter/71-286215913)
4. “I Was a Firefighter for 35 Years. Racism Today Is as Bad as Ever.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/12/opinion/the-racism-inside-fire-departments.html)
5. “Emergency Medical Responders Confront Racial Bias” (https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/01/03/676039371/emergency-medical-responders-confront-racial-bias)
6. “White Supremacist Podcaster Fired From Job As EMT In Virginia” (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alex-mcnabb-fired-white-supremacist-emt_n_5c86c759e4b0ed0a001647dc?utm_medium=facebook&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000047&utm_source=bv_fb&utm_campaign=hp_fb_pages&section=politics&fbclid=IwAR3r7CUgT4MiAv1s9Uu7hjNHtebvSXNwLqojY_QkJ7sx4vVb4ayk3o2nR08)
7. Racing to help: racial bias in high emergency helping situations. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19025298)