Paris firefighters probe blackface and Ku Klux Klan fancy dress party

"Paris's fire brigade has opened an internal investigation into accusations that several firefighters attended a party where revellers dressed in blackface and Ku Klux Klan outfits, the force told AFP on Wednesday. Two of its number are suspected of blacking up while off-duty at the fancy dress evening on Saturday, which was organised by a parachuting club at the aerodrome of Brienne-le-Chateau in northeastern France, the fire brigade added."

"Images on social media showed five attendees, dressed in the white robes and pointy hoods of the infamous US white supremacists, pretending to strangle three others, who had their faces painted black. "Any behaviour contrary to military ethics, republican values, or respect for human dignity is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated under any circumstances," the fire brigade said, adding that an "internal inquiry" was underway."

"Yves-Marie Guillaud, president of the French Parachuting Federation, alleged that all three people in blackface worked for the Paris fire brigade. "It hurts a lot of people," not least those from ethnic minorities, he told AFP, branding the party "vile". Guillaud said the federation would press charges on Thursday against the eight people involved, as well as the person behind the camera."

Paris fire brigade opened an internal investigation after accusations that several firefighters attended a fancy-dress party where revellers wore blackface and Ku Klux Klan outfits. Two firefighters are suspected of blacking up while off-duty at a parachuting club event at the Brienne-le-Chateau aerodrome in northeastern France. Social media images showed five attendees in white robes and hoods pretending to strangle three people with painted black faces. The fire brigade said behaviour contrary to military ethics, republican values, or respect for human dignity is prohibited and an internal inquiry is under way. The French Parachuting Federation plans to press charges against eight people and the cameraman. Blackface originated in 19th-century US minstrel shows and the Ku Klux Klan terrorised African-Americans after its founding in the late 19th century.

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