Vindication

" And just this -- for firefighters in New Haven, Connecticut in a 54 decision."

" The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the group of men who claim that they were denied promotion solely because of their race they catch they were white. At this is a story that we've been following closely now for months the Supreme Court found that the city of New Haven acted unconstitutionally. When it refused to promote white fire fighters who passed their promotion exam. By larger margins than there black colleagues now this decision overturned a circuit. -- court ruling handed down by a panel of judges that included Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. And joining me now are frank --"

" Matthew -- rally and then Vargas three of the New Haven firefighters who challenge the city's policy."

" with them is their attorney Karen Torre guys good to see it thank you up from below us. Congratulate I guess congratulations are in order to all of you. Thank thank you guys. Our -- you know -- let me start with -- your name is on this case and I just think the main thing that I want you to explain to our audience -- and I haven't -- with the earlier today I know that it's important. That you look at and all of firefighters. I think there's a lot context and texture. -- what the obstacles and how hard you work to do so well on this exam I want you to explain that to our audience they understand that. The for the full context to this story."

" Boo everybody you know worked really hard -- this examine. With the learning disability -- had to work a little lecture harder but I prepared myself throughout the whole. And throw my entire career you know studying hard as soon as we all have you know. Reading trade magazines like fire engineering taking classes on our own time -- mean -- it's a common story that you'll find throughout. To New -- this morning. I had were a little harder with possession trouble reading so I had my father and a neighbor read the books -- the -- for me trying to stay that way starting on the way to work. And you know everybody all Tony must have a story Sean."

" Yeah -- but it goes old deeper because you have you you -- doesn't work you have a family. And so on a firefighter salary you hired a tutor you had. Everybody help the -- you put in the time to study spent a thousand dollars -- thousand dollars to until ought to firefighters salary perfect it was a lot of money no. It's a lot of money it's a huge sacrifice for all our families going through this process yet but let me ask you all do you think this is a case of reverse discrimination."

" Well I think we view discrimination as discrimination. And out plain and simple. We were discriminated based upon our race just like African Americans were in the past and other issues so it's just plain old discrimination."

" And a and a look at that. -- I'd I'd up not sure who's who there I don't -- frank is and a gentleman to your right what is he said."

" Yeah I I agree I've -- completely. Yeah environments yes Sean yeah I agree -- completely discrimination is discrimination and we hear a lot about reverse discrimination but you know. Discrimination is discrimination. That's the bottom line."

" Karen I know this is a 54 decision and by any objective measure people with symbolism for a pretty close case. But in essence when you look at it really it's almost 90. Because even those in the minority found that the second circuit would judge Sotomayor. -- really botched this case. Is that your reading --"

" I think that's how most people read it -- I think they just disagreed on and what should happen. On the reunion so. Obviously we are. Relieved and delighted that five. Justices formed a majority. To give a result that we had hoped for."

" and and I've I've read the Justice Alito and his concurring opinion with justices promises and and thus Scalia. And he was very specific that that the petitioners in fact. That the twenty firefighters in this particular case you were denied promotions for cause of your race race and ethnicity. And that the district court threw the case out on summary judgment and a quarter of appeals and -- summarily affirmed that that that decision. So in other words you really were denied equal justice under the law so so that raises a question about. Bob Franken I'll ask you about the president Obama's Supreme Court choice yeah. Moore who was active in this case and you've got to have thoughts on her."

" Sean that's really a question for another day today -- it's been a really long road for all of us. Today we really want to focus on the fact that we want to the United States Supreme Court."

" That that that's a -- answer let me ask the question that a little bit differently and perhaps in a way that you don't have to get political okay. -- she's been overturned. Multiple times in her decisions this is just the latest in the series where. She was overturned. Does that -- should should that raised questions in the minds of the American people lest they be your attorney."

" well. You know. We obviously have very strong feeling Sean about the way we we were treated in the lower courts you know we had an unpublished. Order which. Judge who brought -- in the second circuit called a path breaking decision it was unpublished. And then I saw -- one paragraph you know summary dismissal of our case. That was also on -- so there's no question that -- that we. We had a very difficult time accepting how our case was -- below and I know a lot of people have had something to say about that. And and and judge Sotomayor is having to nominate Supreme Court has only added to the commentary on that but honestly. Today we just don't want. Judge Sotomayor her nomination -- Anybody else's for that matter to sort of invade our space you know we're happy today and we want to take. -- rehab when what -- have a celebration and you know we might have something to say about that some other time but really we we don't want anything reckon our day today."

" I don't know I've I've -- and you guys look deserve it but I have to ask that in Matthew immediate thoughts from you guys."

" Not -- I have to echo what Kiernan and Franken said intent and that simply the other -- This not about judge Sotomayor is about twenty million firefighters that were denied promotion. On the basis of their race and now we fought. A long hard battle not just for ourselves but for firefighters and public safety personnel. In public seeking general throughout the country it -- this is really all about."

" I think this is really an important moment for this reason. That if we really believe the Martin Luther king and then I'll throw this -- and we believe in this concept. That we judge people by the content of their character in the hard work that you put in. And more importantly you know. It's a very dangerous job being a firefighter -- the people of New Haven deserve the best most qualified people. And you think that they would otherwise have been denied that had -- not gotten a promotion."

" Absolutely and I think that the decision was the correct when we took the fight on from beginning because we believe that it. In the -- and you know I think we've said this before but it's worth saying once again. We didn't know where we were on that list we did this out of principle we did this for the people that passed and the people that deserve those promotions and we hope that the the decision. -- at schools across the entire nation."

" All right I -- well I think it and has since certainly it's -- president's side here setting. Frank -- ask you on behalf of all your fellow firefighters there's been what five and a half long years has been a long time. What do what is the status now. I assume you get you promotion and I assume they get back pay in my right."

" What we're looking forward to that promotion -- ceremony. Sean and we hope you come down for it."

" I had. I appreciate the invitation but in all honesty. You know what it's one of the most dangerous jobs have a lot of friends that are fireman -- policeman guys. And I had to -- something that's a dangerous job thank you for you do. This is a very important decision I think in terms of fairness and an equal rights and equal justice under the -- everybody and I wish you all the best and thank you for being with us. Thank you -- and coming up --"