UPDATE | Youngstown’s Mayor Brown addresses ‘racist’ Facebook remarks against fire Chief Finley

[EDITOR'S NOTE — This article contains the graphic language used in the original Facebook post.]

YOUNGSTOWN — Mayor Jamael Tito Brown on Friday condemned an "unacceptable racist rant" directed at city fire Chief Barry Finley.

According to a Friday release from the city, a Facebook user named Rosemarie Carkido Carson wrote the following on the Youngstown Professional Fire Fighters Local 312 union Facebook page:

Carson: "With all that is going on, we don't need petty bullshit ... do the job wisely or boot him out!!! Drag his ass on the back of one of your trucks...!!!"

Mayor Brown in the Friday release said such "vile, racist and dangerous" language "cannot go unchallenged."

"Hate and threats of violence delivered under the mantel of free speech must be addressed," he said. "Citizens have a right to free speech as long as it does not threaten others.

"Cowards have learned much about where the 'free speech' line is and how close the can come to it without criminal charges."

Mayor Brown, speaking to reporters Friday afternoon, said the city law director's office and city police department are now reviewing whether the Facebook poster could face charges, and he's asked Finley to file a formal report with city police.

"If there's an opportunity we can charge, we will ... If they tell me today, we'll do it today," Mayor Brown said. "If they tell me we can't, I'll be disappointed. We'll follow the letter of the law.

"This is not the first time we're seeing these behaviors directed towards our fire chief," he continued. "There's numerous incidents and innuendos we've found throughout the time of his leadership."

He said the mayor's office has not been in contact with the poster.

Carson's Facebook page lists her employment as St. Elizabeth Hospital. Mercy Health spokesperson Jonathon Fauvie, however, said Friday the provider has not employed anyone by that name since 2007.

Another Facebook user named John Thomas — whom Mayor Brown identified as a city fire department captain while speaking to reporters Friday afternoon — responded to Carson:

Thomas: "Who are you talking about?"

Carson: "...your chief...."

Thomas: "I thought that's what you meant but I wasn't sure."

Mayor Brown said he expected the Facebook user identifed as Thomas would have immediately condemned Carson's remarks, but noted that didn't happen.

The post has since been deleted, Mayor Brown said.

An apology from union President Charlie Smith has since appeared on the union's Facebook page:

This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 1:38 PM with the headline "UPDATE | Youngstown’s Mayor Brown addresses ‘racist’ Facebook remarks against fire Chief Finley."