"My City, My Community, and My Home"
A closing statement containing a moving story was verbalized by an SF Firefighter at his termination hearing
Michael Crotty, a former San Francisco Firefighter, was unjustly terminated because SFFD refused to recognize his sincerely-held religious beliefs, and was therefore denied his constitutional right of bodily autonomy. This must-listen-to closing statement begins with an incredibly captivating story about the SF native’s family.
(It honestly defies belief.)
Like many city employees that became impoverished after being fired, he couldn’t afford a lawyer so he had to represent himself.
What an articulate man! These words need to be remembered!
Even if most of his fellow zoomers appeared to be unmoved, it’s a speech that will no doubt resonate with all Saners, especially the many people in our community who were treated in a similarly lamentable fashion.
And wow to this sentence he utters near the end of his statement:
Just know that while you strip me of my property, and my rights…, you take my career from me… you will never rob me in my convictions or my integrity.
which evokes, lyrically, the last track from Sane Artist, Rob MyJob’s, album of provocative freedom songs, To Our World:
You can rob my job,
You can rob my freedom,
But you can never rob my soul!
Indeed, RMJ…
A message to Mike Crotty: all Sane Franciscans stand with you and we know that you will keep on fighting the good fight, despite having been treated so callously by the City of San Francisco.
To support the unvaccinated frontline heroes who selflessly served San Francisco throughout the pandemic and who continue to fight for justice: https://sfrights.org/
The importance and intensity of Mr. Crotty's connection to his job is completely lost on the interchangeable toilet plungers who pass for fire commissioners. I notice one of the "minority" commissioners gets up and takes a walk when he calls them out particularly for a lack of empathy.
A huge problem in society is mediocre people making decisions for exceptional people and here is a perfect example. Rest assured, however, Mr. Crotty will prevail in the end, as will we all.
I hope Michael Crotty is able to sue the City of San Francisco for discrimination and wrongful termination. The people on that commission are soulless.