A black firefighters group says the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is under attack as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a reverse discrimination case filed against a Connecticut city.
The International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters filed a brief with the high court Wednesday, saying New Haven officials were right to throw out two firefighter promotion exams in 2004 because too few minorities would have moved up in rank.
The 19 white firefighters and one Hispanic firefighter who sued the city for discrimination say they would have been promoted.
The president of the black firefighters association was in New Haven to say the case also threatens legal settlements that have forced racial diversity in fire departments.
The nation’s highest court is set to hear the case next month.
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Information from: New Haven Register, http://www.nhregister.com