The city's firefighters' union sent this along to add its voice to the firestorm surrounding Mayor Art Ward's refusal to let union members wear pink uniform shirts to increase breast cancer awareness this month:
Bristol Firefighters Take Mayor Ward to task for Breast Cancer Awareness Position
After overruling the Fire Chief on whether the Bristol Fire Department could join thousands of other firefighters across the country in wearing pink uniform shirts to increase breast cancer awareness on Thursdays in October, Mayor Ward stated on Friday that it is the Fire Union who is making the issue "political.
Mayor Ward recently told reporters that he believes this is more about his relationship with the Fire Union and less about Breast Cancer.
This is absolutely correct. However, the only person making THIS ISSUE political and personal is Mayor Ward.
Why would Mayor Ward respond to a recent letter written by a citizen criticizing his decision by, in turn, ataicking the Bristol Firefighters? Answer... Because he chose to make this issue of Breast Cancer awareness personal. I find it both troubling and somewhat sad that when a citizen criticized his actions in a letter to the newspaper, as is her First Amendment right, the Mayor reacts by attacking the Fire Union.
Mayor Ward writes that he supports breast cancer awareness, yet he put a stop to the Firefighters wearing awareness shirts. He also writes "How much more awareness do you need than the pink ribbons at City Hall". Really Mayor Ward? There can never be enough Breast Cancer Awareness. This makes no sense to me. Unless of course it was personal. By taking a meaningful community event and politicizing it, Mayor Ward has reduced this issue to a political football.
As Union President, I have one point to make to the community we serve: the Bristol Firefighters set out on this campaign with one goal which was to increase breast cancer awareness. When we were originally told yes by the Fire Chief and then no by the Mayor, we did not approach the media - we simply asked the Mayor to reconsider which he refused to do.
At no time did we sensationalize this issue. Nor did we pack the meeting of the Fire Board last month with supporters and breast cancer survivors to take the Board to task as many suggested we do. We worked through the process in hope the that Mayor Ward would change his stance and allow Bristol to participate along with most Connecticut fire departments, as well as thousands more throughout our country.
We will continue our efforts to raise awareness in honor of our wives, mothers, sisters and friends who have battled this disease. We apologize to all those affected by this disease and to the Susan G, Komen Foundation who encouraged us to partner with them that this important conversation about early detection and mammograms has gone astray. To date, we have raised several thousand dollars and will continue to do so throughout the month. I hope the community will join us in these efforts.
Respectfully,
Sean Lennon, President
Bristol Firefighters
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