democracy Now 6

Tabitha Arambula

Democracy Now

 

Black, Latino Firefighters in New York City Settle Long-Running Suit over Racial Discrimination (Wed March 19th, 2014)

 

This story covered discrimination against black, and Hispanics in the fire department in New York City. The percentage of whites were 90% and the rest were Hispanic and black. Now, the percentage varies with about 86 to 89% white and 8-9% Hispanic and about 4% blacks. That is the highest percentage so far. Being a firefighter is like a father-son job. You have to have connections in order to get in. Paul Washington fought for the settlement which benefited those people who could have potentially made it or gotten a job, those who took the entrance exam from 1999-2002 and for other discrimination during the hiring process. The settlement was $98 million. They could have settled this years ago but the Mayor Bloomberg did not do so. They could have settled for $10 million but it took about 12 years for them to finally win the battle.

 

Scott Olsen, U.S. Vet Nearly Killed by Police Beanbag at Occupy Oakland, Settles Lawsuit with City Friday March 21, 2014

 

Scott Olsen is an Iraq veteran who served two tours in the Iraq war. He went on a protest, Occupy Oakland, and he was shot with a beanbag that caused severe damage to his brain. He sued Oakland Police and finally settled for a number, because he knew if they went to trial, it would have been longer. He could potentially get dementia, Alzheimer's, or any other cognitive issue in the next 20 or 30 years. He is part of the Iran Veteran's Against War, and during the Occupy Oakland, protest, he was hurt by a beanbag that it is shot from a shotgun with 40 grams of lead, and it was fifteen feet away. He was going to have a conference later that same day and announce the settlement number. He did say it was about seven figures.