FDNY Is Hunting Down Firefighters Who Booed Letitia James to be RE-Educated

a reply to: Annee

This was a promotion ceremony for the firefighters. It was for them. It was not for her. They did not like who was speaking and made it known.

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: FlyersFan

originally posted by: Annee
The firefighters were denying James her free speech.

Incorrect.
She got to give her political speech in front of an audience forced to sit there.

She was an invited speaker.

YOU keep insisting it was political.

If an audience member is FORCED to sit there -- that is another issue that needs to be taken up with the one(s) doing the forcing.

Her free speech was disrupted by booing and rude behavior from members of the FDNY -- of which this event was actually for.

You keep trying to twist this to fit your narrative.

wait a minute now, are you stating that anyone who is booed, is having their first amendment rights taken away, but you don't think the same is happening when a group protests and has a speaker canceled and removed? You aren't just a fixture of clown world, you are the head clown.

That is a ridiculous attempt at debate.

Protesting (outside a planned event) is a right of free speech -- free expression. Before -- during -- after.

The planner cancelling a speaker/event has nothing to do with free speech.

IMO -- once an invited guest is "on stage" -- they should be allowed to give their talk without disruption.

I'm not making this Right or Left -- but you are.

no, I'm making it right vs. wrong. Protest all you like. No problem. Just don't get violent or bad things might happen. But the millisecond you effectively remove a person from speaking their mind, you have just dove off the 1000 foot cliff of wrong. The part where you can't see that is problematic.

So apparently this kind of thing happens at this event. It's not a big formal to-do type thing. It's firefighters and their families getting together, giving a send off to those leaving, congratulating those promoted, and BLOWING OFF STEAM IS EXPECTED. For the leadership to try to save face politically and to go after firefighters for doing what has always been done at this event ... that's pathetic.

New York Post

We should also be clear about one thing: The behavior exhibited was no different than from past events.

It was just last year that the fire commissioner was booed at the podium at the same promotion, in the same building.

For the record, the FDNY promotion ceremony has always been a jovial event, with members blowing off steam and celebrating the accomplishments of fellow members, giving them a proper send-off as they take their career and the reputation of the firehouse somewhere new.

It has, at many times, felt like a carnival-like atmosphere.

A man in a horse-head costume ran across the stage once. Members bring “fat head” posters of their comrades.

Often someone blasts a siren or an air horn to break the awkward silences.

And as I said, the NY Cops make their opinions known about politicians when they don't like them.

The Hill - Hundreds of NYPD Cops Turn Backs to Deblasio in Protest at Funeral

a reply to: Annee

The firefighters were denying James her free speech.

Her rights of free speech (free from firefighter boos I mean) ended when she entered the *FDNY* event.

She is not FDNY. But the FDNY members there were free to boo all they want. She's lucky that's as far as it went.