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A group of FDNY firefighters were immediately suspended for an on-duty protest over New York City's COVID-19 vaccine mandate that involved an apparatus and the storming of a state senator's office.
The New York Daily News reports that a half dozen city firefighters were on duty Friday when they commandeered a department vehicle and engaged its emergency lights before heading to the offices of State Sen. Zellnor Myrie in Brooklyn.
Four of the firefighters entered the politician's offices and told staff that “blood would be on (their) hands” for the mandate. According to the Daily News, Myrie had nothing to do with Mayor Bill de Blasio's vaccine mandate for city workers.
WNBC is reporting that the firefighters from Ladder 113 made threats while inside the offices and said that if Myrie's home were on fire that they would not respond.
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The six firefighters received a four-week suspension for the stunt, which coincided with FDNY members calling out sick Friday as the mandate went into effect. Although the exact number of firefighters and paramedics involved was not reported, it was a large enough group to put multiple stations out of service.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro blasted the firefighters who called out sick in a statement while assuring the public that the department would continue to rapidly respond to every call that comes in.
"The excessive sick leave by a group of our Firefighters because of their anger at the vaccine mandate for all city employees is unacceptable, contrary to their oaths to serve, and may endanger the lives of New Yorkers,” Nigro said. “Despite these actions by some, the Department will continue to respond to all calls for help that come our way."
