Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Black FDNY Electrician Finds Noose In His Locker


By

Jaya Saxena

Published Feb 7, 2011

Modified Feb 7, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Jaya Saxena

Published Feb 7, 2011

Modified Feb 7, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

In December, FDNY electrician Gregory Seabrook (a black man) filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights, saying that the FDNY overlooks minority electricians for overtime. And on Thursday, he arrived to his Brooklyn FDNY locker to find a noose inside. Unfortunately, this sounds all too familiar.

Seabrook's understated lawyer Stephen Jackson told the Daily News, "There's an ominous message behind it," and says the noose was tied with a monkey knot, which "was a type of weapon used as a flogging knot to beat slaves. It's very thick and very hard and it's designed to cause injuries." Jackson plans on handing the 3-foot noose to the authorities today.

The City Law Department says it's investigating the incident, but this is not the first time the FDNY has been accused of some act of racism or discrimination. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found in Lanaird Granger's favor after he found a noose in his locker in 2005, but nobody at the firehouse was ever disciplined.

Tagged

discrimination

fdny

gregory seabrook

noose

racism


Jaya Saxena

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Police are still investigating bike crash that killed dad of 2 in Central Park

The family is raising money for the wife and two daughters he leaves behind.

By

Brittany Kriegstein

Published Sep 29, 2026 at 9:31 a.m. ET


NYC has a plan to stop homeless people from cycling between hospitals and the streets

The Bridge to Home program, which began last year, will officially expand to Brooklyn on Tuesday.

By

Karen Yi

News

NYC has a plan to stop homeless people from cycling between hospitals and the streets

The Bridge to Home program, which began last year, will officially expand to Brooklyn on Tuesday.

By

Karen Yi


Early Addition: Billy Joel is auctioning off 70 of his motorcycles

By

James Ramsay

Man dragged to death by subway in Brooklyn after getting caught on closing doors

By

Brittany Kriegstein

Upper East Side braces for affordable housing fast track, and backlash from residents

By

David Brand


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .