Alleged Use of Racial Slurs Forces Fire Station Shutdown

Afirehouse was forced to shut down after members allegedly used racial slurs during a recent virtual meeting.

On Wednesday, the Darby Township Board of Commissioners voted to temporarily shut down the Briarcliffe Volunteer Fire Company after members were allegedly heard using racial slurs during a Zoom call with other firehouses in Pennsylvania’s Darby Township {snip}

The vote came shortly after members of the Goodwill Fire Company, one of the township’s three volunteer firehouses, sent a letter to the township’s board of commissioners detailing the alleged comments made during the call.

One member of the Briarcliffe Volunteer Fire Company was allegedly heard poking fun at Fanta Bility’s name. Bility, an 8-year-old Black girl, was fatally shot by officers with the Sharon Hill Police Department in August 2021 after a high school football game. Three officers were each charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment, according to Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer’s office.

Additionally, members of the Briarcliffe Volunteer Fire Company allegedly criticized the percentage of Black residents that lived in Darby Township.

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During a press conference on Friday, Stollsteimer announced that his office is planning to conduct a further investigation into the allegations.

“Whether or not a crime occurred, hate speech is always morally wrong,” he said. {snip}

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