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Black Firefighters Name Springfield Fire Commissioners In Federal Discrimination Suit

A federal discrimination lawsuit filed by two Black firefighters against the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, now specifically names the current and former fire commissioners.

The original complaint, filed in 2018, claimed firefighters Marc Savage and Randolph Blake were subjected to egregious racial and religious harassment, and that they were denied promotion opportunities. 

The amended complaint specifically alleges that under former Springfield Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, Black firefighters were subjected to racist social media posts from fellow firefighters.  

Other allegations against Conant, and against current commissioner Bernard Calvi, include negligent supervision, said the firefighters' attorney Arnold Lizana.

“We also allege that both the fire commissioners, former and current, were actively involved in discrimination and retaliation,” Lizana said.

In an email, Springfield's city solicitor Ed Pikula said he is preparing a response to the complaint. But his initial impression is the document doesn't accurately portray the work environment of the Springfield Fire Department, although he does say the city condemns some of the despicable remarks made in internet postings. 

Jill Kaufman has been a reporter and host at NEPM since 2005. Before that she spent 10 years at WBUR in Boston, producing "The Connection" with Christopher Lydon and on "Morning Edition" reporting and hosting. She's also hosted NHPR's daily talk show "The Exhange" and was an editor at PRX's "The World."
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