Black Firefighter's Home Burns Down After Receiving Racist Letter

A black New York firefighter received a racist, threatening letter warning him that if he didn't step down from the department he would "regret it."

Kenneth Walker, the only black firefighter a part of North Tonawanda's fire department, received the letter at his home this past Monday, and reported the threatening note to his supervisor at the fire station that evening. The department quickly contacted law enforcement to investigate the letter. According to North Tonawanda Mayor Arthur G. Pappas, both police and the FBI are involved in the investigation.

Despite the letter's threat and demand for his resignation Walker stated he was going to remain with the department. Speaking to KHOU.

"I'm not going to be intimidated. I'm not going to change my habits of what I've been doing. I'm still going to be helpful in the community. I'm going to go on calls and hopefully this is just an isolated incident and if it turns out to be more, I'm sure that and confident that the North Tonawanda police department will handle it."

The following day (Tuesday) Pappas held a Common Council meeting where he voiced his support for Walker and his family. "Needless to say we are appalled by this situation as it does not represent what the City of North Tonawanda stands for," Pappas said. "I as mayor and the Common Council will not tolerate this type of behavior in our community. Any threats against our police, fire or other personnel are taken very seriously, as it is for all of our citizens."

However, on Wednesday morning, a mere two days after Walker received the letter, his house mysteriously caught on fire. Fortunately Walker, his wife and their two kids are safe, but they did lose two pet cats and all of their possessions. "It's sad that someone is so offended by my presence that they feel the need to burn my house down," Walker told WGRZ reporter Claudine Ewing.

There is a GoFundMe page that's raising money for Walker and his family, with the creator Shawn Moynihan having almost raised his goal in a matter of a day (he's received $50,982 out of the requested $55,000). If you'd like to donate you can do so here.