African American Firefighter Museum Traces History From Segregation to Integration – Los Angeles Sentinel lasentinel.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lasentinel.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In 1980, I had just one year on the job at the Los Angeles Fire Department. I walked into the locker room of the fire station I was working at and encountered a horrific scene: a fellow firefighter being held down on a pool table by several members of the crew. He was sexually assaulted by the group as a pair of LAFD captains were inside the building, unaware what was going on inside the locker room. When the attack was over, the firefighter responded with an attack of his own, pool balls flying around the room, hitting those who could not flee his rage fast enough.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has re-opened the possibility of a lawsuit filed by Mark Ridley-Thomas supporters to sue over the selection of Herb Wesson as a temporary member of the Los Angeles City Council, throwing the status of Los Angeles’ 10th Council District back into question.
Since 1963, when Tom Bradley defeated Joe E. Hollingsworth to become the first African American elected councilmember of the 10th District, the seat has always been seen as a Black seat.
Mark Ridley-Thomas should encourage the plaintiff and his friends to drop this frivolous lawsuit and allow Herb Wesson to serve as the “Interim” Councilmember of the 10th District and let’s move forward on working for the people and not for individual glory and political gain. Nobody could serve as the Interim Councilmember of 10th District better than Herb Wesson.