Salvatore Cassano
*An aspiring New York firefighter is resigning from the city’s fire department, where he was working as an EMT, because of his racially inflammatory tweets, reports The Root.
The tweeter, by the way, just so happens to be the son of the city’s fire commissioner, Salvatore Cassano.
Joe Cassano’s targets included Jews, blacks and “Obama lovers.” He once tweeted, “I like jews about as much as hitler,” and during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday he wrote, “MLK could go kick rocks for all I care, but thanks for the time and a half today.”
He also tweeted the term “shwoog,” which is slang for the n-word, according to the Urban Dictionary. In addition to his father’s prominent role leading the Fire Department of New York, Cassano’s tweets drew attention because the FDNY has struggled with diversity for years.
Commissioner Cassano had this to say of his son:
“I am extremely disappointed in the comments posted online by my son Joseph, which do not reflect the values — including a respect for all people — that are held by me, my family and the FDNY. I have worked hard for many years, as have so many people in the agency, to make the FDNY more diverse and inclusive. There is no place — and I have no tolerance — for statements that would harm the good reputation we enjoy due to our honorable service to all New Yorkers.
“As a parent, this is very painful for me, but I believe my son has made the right decision [to resign],” Cassano continued. “I love him very much, and with the support and love of our entire family, we will get through this together.”
Read the entire story at TheRoot.com.
