JUJ Statement on The Chief of the Fire Department,
Sherman George
When JUJ became aware that the Mayor of the City of St. Louis was pressuring the Chief of the Fire Department, Sherman George to make a series of promotions we decide to study the issue and determine if we felt there was a justice issue of concern to us.
Two JUJ members had a wonderful and inspirational meeting with the Chief. He explained his position which you can sum up by saying that he feels the testing process is very unfair for a number of reasons
and is holding out for a promotion process that he believes is fair. He has been with the Fire Department just about forty years and has been chief since 1999.
He believes the system is seriously flawed and slanted in favor of those with relatives and with neighbors on the force and with the powers that be in the in the City government.
The JUJ Steering Committee then adopted the following position.
One thing that everyone would agree on is that the current fight is dividing the City along racial lines and is further polarizing an already polarized community.
We think the best we could do is to help form and lead a faith based coalition that would call for an objective expert to be named to mediate this dispute.
The chief indicated that a coalition of clergy has suggested the United States Mediation and Conciliation Service and there are likely other
such services that might step in to help.
We understand that a good number of people indicated they could attend a Steering Committee Meeting on Tuesday, September 25 at Kayaks at 8:30 a.m.
We know this is a very very busy and sacred time but we would ask the following.
JUJ then decided to send the following letter to various media sources. The letter was published in the Jewish Light and the St. Louis American.
Dear Editor:
We are saddened by the apparent racial divide over management of the St. Louis City Fire Department. We write not to take sides but to encourage the leadership both at City Hall and at the Fire Department to find an avenue for dialogue and reconciliation and, to overcome the public perception that we have returned to a time when race drives government and business decision making.
We in the Jewish Community are celebrating our High Holidays. Our holiday period is a time to help heal relationships and to find ways to make positive changes in how we relate to those our lives touch. Like Christmas and Ramadan, it is a time to put aside animosity and differences and seek reconciliation.
It is in this spirit of reconciliation and desire to build a truly inclusive community that we encourage people of faith and people who believe in social justice to support compromise in the short term so that we can find ways to build trust for the long term. This can include mutual concessions on the immediate promotion needs without any party being forced into a corner by a court decision. For the longer term, the parties can use mediation and meaningful departmental diversity training, Strong and principled leaders at City Hall and the Fire Department can do this without reducing their legal authority while increasing their shared moral authority.
We have all worked to create a city and a region where race, religion, gender and other identity issues do not divide us. By finding a way to transform the current impasse into positive action, our leaders will teach the rest of us that the St. Louis area is dedicated to creating a community where each of us feels heard, cared for, and respected.
Sincerely,
Jews United For Justice
Michael Kahn, President
JUJ is currently working with the Black Leadership Roundtable to determine what additional actions we should take now that the Mayor has fired Chief George.