Two New York senators have been criticised by the Union officials representing FDNY firefighters after they posed with a banner that compared climate change to 9/11, urging them to take a trip to Ground Zero.
President of Firefighters Association, Andrew Ansbro condemned Sens. Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan) and Rachel May (D-Syracuse) over a photo which showed them smiling and standing next to a sign showing a silhouetted plane labelled “climate change” aimed at the World Trade Center during an Albany rally.
Ansbro stated that the tragic events of 9/11 should never be used to prop up the unrelated cause. This was just before he invited the pair to join him for a visit to the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan where he stated that climate change is a big issue, which carries enough gravity on its own.”
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The two senators had joined hundreds of protesters rallying outside the state Capitol earlier in the week, calling for $15 billion in climate change funds to be included in New York’s budget.
It was during the protest that they were photographed behind the sign, which also read: “Climate change…Wake up America. 2050 is too late.”
Although booth lawmakers have since apologized, claiming they were unaware of the image or message on the sign as they joined the demonstration, a video has shown Jackson, who represents parts of Upper Manhattan, pointing out and reading the banner to the crowd during the rally.
“I did not note the details of the artwork and would never support anything that denigrates the memory of all who were impacted by 9/11,” he tweeted. “The artwork depicted is wrong, and I fully reject it.”
Ansbro has said that he will be inviting the two senators to discuss the issue.
Story was adapted from Daily News.
