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The lawsuit arose from an incident that occurred in November 2017 prior to the memorial mass in the honor of the deceased members of the Vulcan Society, a fraternal organization of FDNY Black Firefighters.
Lieutenant Daniel McWilliams was initially chosen by the FDNY's Ceremonies Unit to serve as a standard bearer in the color guard at the commemorative Mass, an "esteemed honor and privilege," says the lawsuit.
However, Regina Wilson, the president of the Vulcan Society, reportedly withdrew McWilliams on the day of the event because she had specifically asked for a black guard, the trial said.
"Are you removing me from the color guard because I'm not black?" McWilliams asked him, the lawsuit says.
"Yes, I am," said Wilson. She then ordered him to perform "lesser duties" of escorting civilians and collecting uniforms in uniform, away from the commemorative mass, the trial said.
The complaint also contains a screenshot of a text exchange with Wilson, in which she writes: "Know that I asked Lieutenant Williams to help in his duties for the Today's ceremony I wish to have a black guard and asked one of my members to speak. "
McWilliams, an FDNY veteran for 29 years, claims that he was discriminated against in his race and that he "suffered severe shame, emotional distress and an injury to its reputation, "says the lawsuit.
The pursuit targets Wilson as well as the FDNY, the city and the anonymous names Jane and John Does.
A complaint was filed on behalf of McWilliams with the FDNY's Office for Equal Opportunities in Employment, and the investigation concluded that there was "sufficient credible evidence and corroborating "stating that he had been excluded from custody of the color because of his race," says the lawsuit.
Nick Paolucci, spokesman for the New York City Legal Department, said the complaint would be reviewed and dealt with after it has been served. Similarly, FDNY spokesman Francis Gribbon said the ministry will review and respond accordingly once the complaint is received.
Laura Ly from CNN contributed to this report.
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