Federal judge rules that New York City discriminated against black applicants to fire dept

The city of New York has intentionally discriminated against black applicants to the city's fire department, by using a test that it knew to be unfair. That's according to a decision handed down Wednesday by a federal judge in Brooklyn. The judge said the practice was "part of a pattern" that has "deep historical antecedents and uniquely disabling effects.” Black firefighters compose just 3.4 percent of the department. Black residents make up about 25 percent of the city's population.

We're joined by Anjana Samant, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights. She is part of the team that represented the firefighters in the case.

In a statement to FSRN, the city's law department said that it disagrees with the court's opinion. And added that "there is simply no evidence that the City ever intended to discriminate against black applicants."