By Jesse Muhammad
HOUSTON (FinalCall.com) - Members of the Houston Black Firefighters Association are pressing the Federal Bureau of Investigation to probe a recent noose incident and the alleged discriminatory treatment of members.
One of the group's members, Jesse O'Quinn, discovered a hangman's noose at a Houston fire station located on the east side of town. As reported by KHOU Channel 11 News, the noose was hanging in a White supervisor's partially opened locker door. Mr. O'Quinn spotted it and reported it to the assistant fire chief only to be reprimanded for not following the chain of command.

“We are outraged by this incident and the fact that they would reprimand him (Mr. O'Quinn) for reporting it. That's crazy,” said Capt. Otis Jordan, president of Black firefighters group, to The Final Call. He has served in the field for 29 and has led the organization for nine years.
The supervisor who had the noose was only written up, according to Mr. Jordan. “So O'Quinn got the same punishment. But we're going to fight them on this because this is only a sign of the ongoing racism that has occurred in the ranks of the Houston Fire Department.”

Fire Dept. officials contend the actions taken were appropriate. “The matter has been looked into. It was investigated after being brought to our attention and the appropriate action was taken,” said Omero Longoria, of the Houston Fire Dept., to KHOU-TV.
But Mr. Jordan's group is not accepting that. The group has filed a civil rights complaint with the FBI and is reaching out to senators, city officials, congressman and civil rights groups to press for a through investigation of the incident.

Mr. Jordan went before the Houston City Council on March 31 and Council member Peter Brown said, “There must be disciplinary action immediately.”
Unfair testing and promotions?
This is not the first time this year that discriminatory charges have been brought against the fire department. In early February, seven Black firefighters sued the city, contending that the department's test for officer promotions adversely affects non-Whites.
“This is systemic discrimination,” said attorney Dennis Thompson in an article in the Houston Chronicle. “Selection rates for African Americans are abysmally smaller than for White candidates.”

Firefighters trying to attain the rank of captain and above in Houston must take a 100-question multiple-choice test. Mr. Thompson charged “numerous studies show that Blacks as a group do less well on high-stakes tests. Fire departments should use cognitive tests only as a pass-fail benchmark and also should focus on performance exercises and other criteria.”
His clients are seeking back pay and damages as well as promotions to captain or senior captain.