Fire Critic An Unadulterated View of the Fire Service
The Elmont Fire Department in Long Island is under scrutiny for using the Confederate Flag (stars and bars) in their logos.
Apparently, the Elmont FD has a run territory that includes 35,000 people. Most of whom are black. (according to the report).
image from NBC New York
Questions are rising over the departments use of the confederate flag in their logos.
…”I felt very uncomfortable when I saw that,” said an Elmont firefighter, who is black and wanted to remain anonymous for fear of repercussion.
…
We showed Elmont residents photos of Engine Company 3’s logo.
“It’s disrespectful. I thought we were over that. Didn’t Lincoln free the slaves,” said Andrea Cross
“It’s disgraceful, very disgraceful,” said Joyce Johnson
“Racism. It’s the flag people use when they want you to know they are either part of the Klu Klux Klan they believe in just slavery,” said Judy Djalo
I thought maybe the department just came up with new logos…hence the recent report. But it actually it appears they have been using the stars and bars for a long time.
What do you think? Should they scratch the use of the Confederate Flag? Is the meaning lost in translation.
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