Tag Archives: Rick Backs

Indiana Firefighter Sues Over Noose Incident

An Indiana firefighter who was tossed a noose during a training exercise has filed a lawsuit in federal court naming chief who tossed the noose. Marion firefighter Mikel Neal and his wife, Rachelle Fears-Neal, have filed suit against former Deputy Chief Rick Backs. The four-page complaint alleges a single count of a due process violation.

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Noose Incident Prompts Apologies, Demotion, and a Lawsuit

A white assistant chief in Indiana who threw a noose to a black firefighter during a knot tying exercise has been demoted to firefighter. The incident has also prompted a race discrimination suit by the black firefighter. Former Marion Fire Department Assistant Chief Rick Backs created the noose during a training exercise last February exercise and reportedly threw it toward firefighter Mikel Neal. The incident sparked racial tensions in the city of Marion that brought back recollections of lynchings that occurred as late as the 1930s.

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