June 29th 2023.
Jerrod Jones, a Black firefighter, has taken legal action against the Rochester Fire Department, which he joined in 2008. According to NBC News, Jones is suing the department after his supervisor, Jeffrey Krywy, urged him to attend a party that had racist undertones.
Since Jones publicly revealed what happened at the party in 2022, he and his family have been harassed. Details from the lawsuit reveal that the event featured a large cutout of former President Donald Trump, photos of local Democratic politicians' heads on stakes, buckets of fried chicken, and party favor bags that included Juneteenth-themed cups and bottles of Hennessy.
Jones was instructed by his supervisor not to take any pictures at the party, and he only stayed for approximately 40 minutes before leaving. He later described the experience as so emotionally distressing that he took a medical leave of absence and has yet to return to his job. Krywy retired in 2022, before termination proceedings could begin following an investigation with the city.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the city of Rochester and the Fire Department stated that they "do not comment on pending litigation." Jones's legal action is a reminder of the systemic racism that continues to be pervasive in our society.
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