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NYC leaders call for investigation after 'blatant racism' in FDNY training video
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 19, 2025
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Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 19, 2025
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City leaders are calling for an investigation into the FDNY’s training curriculum and practices after a video surfaced recently showing students of color carrying cotton balls with their hands tied behind their backs.
"Forcing Black and brown students to carry cotton balls with their hands tied behind their backs is not only demeaning, it is blatant racism, plain and simple," said Councilmember Rita Joseph, who chairs the Committee on Education.
The incident occurred in an FDNY training classroom in Queens during a summer youth program and was first reported by PIX11.
An FDNY spokesperson said once officials became aware of the incident, the department fired the employee in charge and launched an investigation.
The city’s education department is also calling for a probe.
“This kind of egregious behavior is in no way aligned with our values or expectations for schools and is being thoroughly investigated,” said schools spokesperson Nicole Brownstein.
The FDNY characterized the activity as a team-building exercise in which competitors race to transfer cotton balls from one bucket to another without using their hands and noted that similar variations can be found online.
Joseph acknowledged the termination but said "accountability doesn't stop with firings."
"We need a full and honest assessment of the curriculum and practices within this program, because the very fact that this activity was ever allowed speaks to a deeper problem of racism embedded within training practices at the FDNY," she said.
The incident comes after the city recently settled a $30 million class-action lawsuit over alleged racial and gender bias in the FDNY.
“This video is shameful and an unacceptable way for our youth to be educated in supposed ‘problem solving,’” said Oren Barzilay, head of the union for EMS workers. “The FDNY has an ongoing history of racial bias with our EMS members and it is disappointing that young children have to be exposed to it as education exercises.”
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Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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