Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-05-18

N'i'N h"'N'l ~ ""N ''"'N" ~
department officials and depai
No. 10,
An unwrittcn policy. app
partment heads has developed tn
10 white and black bed" policy
since the indignation Of tho de-
partmcnt several years ago,
Some few white flrcmen will
not uar the same bed used by Ne
gro rircmen who relieve them on
duty, and instead insist ON havs
ing u special bed which can only
be used by tho white fircmcn On
duty,
II Ii understood that the prac.
tee was lnuaugurated after i.e.
roy Coleman. STA W, Central Az,
was promoted to frc captain and
assigned tn FIRE station 10, Ills
opposite number, Captain Matt
Remackel commanding the A
shit openly stated that he was
not going TO use tho bed IN the
captains quarters provided by the
city, " Coleman slept In u.
Remackol Immediately ordered
an additional bed for himself, an
act which IL apparently not nc
coriing tn departmental rcgula'
tiona. Remaciel was 81 voeiferoua
about not wanting 10 sleep In the
same bed that a Negro slept In
that tho practice began To grow
among some of the rank and file
firemon,
Rome white fircmen, however
have never participated IN the In
aulting racist campaign, using this
sleeping accommodation assign
them. Each fireman pro, .des
own bed linen and blankets. Th'
city provides the beds and mat
treanes.
Capt. Leroy Coleman was 90
probation when tho problem de
velop.d and he did not bring tn
matter 10 the attention OF hi
superior officers, although wha
had occurred was known thr,c'i
the community,
Several weeks ago the 81 Pau
RAACP. through iis president
Frank Smith. protested 10 IN. ~
Paul FEp commission about tn
discriminatory policy both NJ u
sleeping Accommodations and a pol
hey 81 assigning Negro fircme'
only 20 certain stations IN the city
The HAACp claims this latte
discrimination prevents Negro
American firemen from learning
the various types ~ fire nghtini
equipment. the various diatrct
and therefore initiates aRninH
them In promotionsl examinations
which are based on knowledge q
different types ~ equipment an
familiarity with the various FIR
districts and conditions In them
After an Investigation by Dan
lei Jarob0wsli. executive directo
~ the ~. Paul FTpC and n ~
port. meeting ~ fircmsn M
signed 10 station No. ~, was he'll
Monday, June ~
Present nj IN. meeting wsf
Asst. IRE chief John Barry, dis
trict chiefs Don fonsy. Waite
Mayer. william Conroy an
Charles Ronsy,
Also present were captains Mat
Rsmsnkel and Leroy Coleman.
After n discussion ~ the prob
lens projected by the p'rP IN
veatigaiion. Asst Chief Barry I
reported 10 hsv. said that Fran
smith fRAACP prssidsnD MI
Iacob0vnki fFEPC Director mr.
not running the fire department
Then following q long discus
sion chief Barry said that RrieV
snces should be brought 10 the nj
tsntion ~ department official
rather than 10 "ou,sidern"
white B~d" Renewed
The special "whits" bed whic
Capt. Rsmacksl had installed l
tho captain quarters had been o'
dered removed a day or 10 bsfor
tho meeting. When Capt R'
nackel asked n he could get hi
bed back, Chief Barry said. "n'
never"
The discussion at the nsetin
also revealed that Capt col"mh
bed reported the black bed "
cident 10 his superior dis'1t
chief Walter Mayer. after h" hs
served his probationary perio'
Coleman said chief Mayer tol
him he didn't think The bed Eitu'
ton wRs important enough
make an issue Of a.
A. the meeting. II IL rcportr
Coleman said Rcmacksl told hi
frankly. Il won't sleep In a bed
NJ has slept In" Rsmacksi ~
MED he used the racial epithst b.
admitted tina, he had refused
Use the same bed Capt ColemA
used.
7, was also charged n the nse'
Ing tina, fireman Philip sado~Sb!
a member ~ the Jewish faith ~
into the station argument hbo,
bsds by phonlng ono of The ~
b gro members ~ the night shi'
I H. IgA afa