Two Miami-Dade firefighters refuse to ride on truck with flag

Miami Herald ^ | September 19, 2001

[TexRef]

MIAMI -- (AP) -- Two Miami-Dade County firefighters refused to ride on a fire engine carrying the American flag, saying Old Glory was offensive, officials said Wednesday.

The two firefighters, one an engine driver and the other a firefighter, showed up for work Saturday morning, saw the flag on the truck and refused to ride, telling crew members that the flag represented oppression, said Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue spokesman Lt. Louie Fernandez.

The crew chief then ordered the flag's removal so that the seven-member unit could answer 911 calls, Fernandez said.

``He (the crew chief) felt the best thing to do was for the administration to deal with this later,'' Fernandez said. ``This way, citizens were never affected as far as their fire and rescue service.''

Fernandez declined to identify the two firefighters, who work at Station 26 in Opa-Locka, a small town in north Miami-Dade County. He said they have been on scheduled leave since Saturday but will return to work Monday.

``We're getting statements from all the firefighters involved,'' Fernandez said.

On Monday, Miami-Dade Fire Chief Dave Paulison ordered all county fire engines to carry the American flag in honor of the firefighters and police officers killed in New York in last week's terrorist attacks.

Fernandez said if the two firefighters refuse to ride when they return to work, they ``will be met with severe discipline.''

``I've had more than 100 phone calls from firefighters around the county who are appalled at this report,'' Fernandez said. ``We lost 400 colleagues in New York. This is our way of expressing sympathy.''

[TexRef]

Unbelievable.

[RooRoobird14]

I hate to ask this question, but by chance were these firemen of a certain ethnic origin?

[okie_tech]

Opa-Locka is almost all black. Horrible degraded town.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Were these guys marching in Miami-Dade county with Jesse Jackson a few months ago?

[CheneyChick]

They don't deserve a badge. Losers.

[Dahoser]

So Jesse and Reverend Al finally have something to do.

[Blade]

who work at Station 26 in Opa-Locka

For those of you unfamiliar with the Miami area, Opa-Locka is a very poor part of town. It consists primarily of blacks and hispanics and other immigrants.

[dighton]

Fernandez said if the two firefighters refuse to ride when they return to work, they ``will be met with severe discipline.''

Find out what country's flag they prefer, and deport them to it.

[TexanaRED]

Hopefully those two firefighters will be looking for a new job.

MiamiDade FD has a search and rescue team that travels worldwide when disaster strikes. I would bet they ARE NOT happy with these two anti-Americans!

[Polybius]

I hate to ask this question, but by chance were these firemen of a certain ethnic origin?

Not Cuban Americans, that's for d*mned sure.

[Bobby777]

saying Old Glory was offensive

***Bobby777 scratches his head ... doesn't get it***

WHAT is up with these morons?

[Billy_bob_bob]

Oh oh, now you are a "racist" for even asking! Of course "multiculturalism" and "diversity" are wonderful things that can never, never ever be questioned! These firefighters are better Americans for refusing to ride with Old Glory than you are for asking such terrible, racist questions.

< /sarcasm >

[dandelion]

``I've had more than 100 phone calls from firefighters around the county who are appalled at this report,'' Fernandez said. ``We lost 400 colleagues in New York. This is our way of expressing sympathy.''

This is the real story - people aren't going to put up with this kind of garbage anymore. They still has the right to dissent; but they don't have the right of a guaranteed or indulgent audience...

[101viking]

HELP WANTED

Miami-Dade Fire Department
has an immediate openings
for 2 Fire Fighters. Only
those with patriotism and
a sense of compassion need
apply. Contact the Fire Capatain
at Miami-Dade Fire Station No. 26
for further information.

[spectre]

What's unbelievable, is that these two would have refused to answer a 911 call if the flag was hanging on the truck?!!!!!

sw

[WIMom]

Fire them!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I guess we can put these two fools in the "Let's NOT Roll" camp...

[concerned about politics]

Socialist Democrats. Anti-Americans. The flag of freedom is considered oppressive?
Send them to Afganistan with the rest of them. Plane will be leaving airport at.....

[thefactor]

OMG! GO BACK TO WHEREVER THE F--- YOUR ANCESTORS CAME FROM! You want oppresion, I bet you will find it there!!! Bastards. I always said that America's biggest strength is also it's biggest weakness.