MILLVILLE, Del. - Local racial justice organizations are calling for jail time for the two ex volunteer firefighters at the Millville volunteer Fire Company charged with a hate crime.
Jay Droney and Jordan Hastings face felony hate crime charges after the affidavit for the case states they chased a black employee with a noose at the Millville Volunteer Fire Company.
Their actions are pushing local racial justice organizations like Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice to speak up and speak out.
"They need to go to jail," said Joseph Lawson.
Joseph Lawson is the executive director for the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice and says he expects more from the fire department as they try to move forward.
"Some intense educational informational reviews with people to let them know that whatever the roots of thinking was wrong.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Millville Volunteer Fire Company says "moving forward, we will be implementing a harassment/discrimination prevention and reporting training program for officers, supervisors, employees, and members as soon as practical."
Lawson says he understands first hand what the threat of a noose and a symbol affiliated with lynching can do to the Black community.
"My great grandmother owned enough land so it would cover the entire city of Rehoboth Beach and she lost it all when a lynch mob came for our family."
Lawson says the alliance is ready to work and make sure this doesn't happen again.
"We want to get everybody in the community say 'not here, not in our town."
In the fire departments statement, it says "additionally, an immediate review of current policies is underway and will be updated accordingly."