CAIR-SFBA condemns Alameda County firefighter’s racist tirade and welcomes investigation

The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) today strongly condemned the racist tirade of an Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) firefighter. The tirade was captured on video and widely shared on social media. The incident occurred in San Joaquin County, reportedly following a car accident involving the firefighter and a community member.

SEE: Alameda County firefighter makes racist rants against community member in TikTok video

The video, posted on TikTok last Friday, shows the firefighter making a series of racist remarks toward the community member involved in the accident. In the video, the firefighter, who appeared upset by the incident, used profanities and demeaning language, including calling the victim a “stupid Mexican or whatever you f***ing are, Filipino.” Despite the community member’s attempt to deescalate the situation, the firefighter continued his tirade, declaring, “It doesn’t matter if I’m a racist, I’m a (expletive) firefighter.”

The Alameda County Fire Department has confirmed the incident and announced an internal investigation to determine the facts surrounding the encounter.

In a statement CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo said:

“We are deeply disturbed by the blatant racism shown in this video. The firefighter’s statements are not only reprehensible, but also indicative of a broader problem of unchecked bias in the public service.

“We applaud the ACFD’s decision to investigate the incident and call for a comprehensive and transparent process with decisive action to ensure this behavior is not tolerated within their ranks. The community deserves better from those sworn to serve and protect it.”

As a civil rights organization dedicated to protecting civil liberties and promoting justice, CAIR-SFBA continues to advocate for policies that combat racism and discrimination in all forms.