The racial unrest in Jacksonville's Fire Rescue Department headed to a federal courtroom Wednesday afternoon.
However, this suit may be different than what many would expect after the race-sensitive incidents that have occurred over the past week.
Three white firefighters are suing the city of Jacksonville, saying they were passed over for promotions because of the color of their skin.
Four firefighters originally filed the suit in 2000; one has since died.
Firefighters George Williams, Michael Perryman and Michael Price claim they were discriminated against when the former fire chief Ray Alfred, who is black, passed them over for captain's positions because they did not reflect the cultural diversity of the fire department.
In the trial's opening statements the attorney for the firemen, Scott Fortune, pointed out that the three firefighters in court were the next in line for a promotion.
In the courtroom, Fortune told the jury the same story he told Channel 4 in 2000.
"Chief Alfred said the next four men on the list don't reflect the culture of the fire department," Fortune said.
The use of the words cultural diversity is what Ernst Mueller, attorney for the city, is disputing. He said Alfred never said that, and it was hearsay that was later retracted.
Mueller told the jury it would all come out during the trial. He said Alfred had faced resistance, petty complaints and was blamed for things he should not have been blamed for.
The firefighters are not only blaming Alfred but also the city of Jacksonville for allegedly holding them back in their careers.
Current chief Rick Barrett was in courtroom representing the department. With this suit on his mind, and also dealing with current discrimination claims in the department, Barrett has his hands full and a lot of eyes watching.
Mayor John Peyton is one of the many people watching the case. He said Tuesday he was having the city's human rights commission do an investigation of the department, and on Wednesday he told Channel 4 his plan is to get to the bottom of all the claims.
"The real question is, are these pockets of problems? Are these isolated incidents, or is it a systemic problem in the department? That's what the human rights commission is being tasked to research and study," Peyton said.
Channel 4's Melanie Lawson reported that Alfred is expected to be in the courtroom on Thursday and that the case is expected to conclude sometime next week.
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