Thread by @rise_alien

Now seems like a good time to discuss my past. I fulfilled my lifelong dream of becoming a paid firefighter at the age of 49

I signed an NDA to settle my discrimination & harrasment lawsuit. I can't talk about all of it, but you can read about it here 👇

firelawblog.com/2017/06/05/lyn…

Part of my suit involved the retaliation I received after reporting the racism I witnessed of my black co-workers & to the black community

This part of the suit was thrown out b/c the judge said I had no standing as a white woman & could be provided no protections under the law

B/c that portion was thrown out, I don't believe they can silence me w/the NDA when I discuss the racism

I worked w/some of the most racist motherfuckers I have ever encountered in my life. They were also self-proclaimed Christians, it being Falwell Country after all.

The City & Fire Dept. didn't challenge my facts. After all, I had witnesses, emails and FB posts. They acknowledged I had been mistreated, but said it was because I was "unlikeable." Later, it was because I was "disgruntled."

They argued I had no legal protections b/c of this

These "heroes" still work at the LFD, and I'm assuming they are still racist and misogynistic as fuck - doling out their hatred to those they find different or "unlikeable."

I also assume there are hundreds of thousands of ppl like them working in depts. across the country.

I urge you to remember this: If you call 911 and a medic shows up; If they don't give you an assessment, If they simply look at you with contempt while appraising the color of you skin, your wealth of your gender identity...

If they look at their partner and roll their eyes and If the 1st words out of their mouth is "So, do you want to go to the hospital?"

They are racist and/or a bigot.

Their response is also illegal and unethical.

Report them.

Suing the department was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I had no money to hire an attorney and discrimination lawsuits are some of the most expensive in the country. There is no free legal aid. There are no pro bono attorneys waiting in the wings.

The ACLU is backed up for decades and the EEOC is even worse. I even called Gloria Allred. They said my case wasn't high profile enough.

Lol. To me it was.

I filed the suit on my own and that's when the anxiety and panic attacks started.

I'm still something of a mess because of all this (and more.)

Unfortunately, I'm sure my unlikeability has increased greatly over the years as I've morphed into a hostile, angry, sad and weepy, depressed and crazy person.

You may have noticed.

Thanks for reading.

RA