Black New Jersey firefighter files $25M lawsuit after surveillance video shows white colleague tying noose and taunting him [VIDEO]
Newly resurfaced footage sparks outrage as a Black firefighter alleges years of racial harassment inside a nearly all-white New Jersey department.
A disturbing Fox 5 NY clip has gone viral. Thus, showing a white Bloomfield, New Jersey firefighter tying a rope into a noose-like knot and tossing it at his Black colleague inside their firehouse. The footage was originally captured by surveillance cameras in November 2023. However, it has resurfaced as the firefighter targeted in the incident — Antoine Hearns — filed a $25 million federal civil rights lawsuit against the township this month. In the video, Hearns recounts the moment he identified the knot as the same type historically used to lynch Black people, only to see his colleague laugh and brush it off as harmless.
The clip struck a nerve on social media. As a result, drawing nearly unanimous shock and disgust from viewers who recognized the act as more than a casual workplace prank. For Hearns, he was one of only a handful of Black firefighters in a department of nearly 80. So, he feels the incident was the culmination of what he describes as a pattern of racial harassment long ignored by leadership. From the delayed response by supervisors to the lack of disciplinary action even after state prosecutors intervened, the situation has fueled claims of systemic bias inside the department.
As the lawsuit gains traction, the video has reignited conversations about racism in public safety agencies. Especially when symbols of racial terror emerge in supposedly professional environments. For Hearns, the footage is proof. For many viewers, it’s a reminder that racist behavior can thrive even in institutions sworn to protect the public.
A Firefighter’s Allegations of Racism Stretch Back Years
Before the noose incident captured national attention, Hearns had already documented multiple issues inside the Bloomfield Fire Department. According to his lawsuit, filed on November 16, of this year, he experienced repeated instances of racial hostility from colleagues during training sessions, casual interactions, and operational duties. Hearns alleges that white firefighters, including Walter Coffey — the man seen tying the noose — frequently used racial slurs without consequence. Therefore, creating an environment where Black firefighters felt singled out, isolated, and unprotected by leadership.
Bloomfield’s department demographics underscore the imbalance. Out of nearly 80 firefighters, only a few are Black. Hearns claims that this imbalance contributed to a culture in which racist behavior was tolerated or overlooked. Especially when committed by high-ranking or long-serving members. Coffey, a 25-year veteran, allegedly used racial language on multiple occasions without discipline. Thus, reinforcing Hearns’ belief that complaints would not be taken seriously.
When the first noose was discovered on a table during a training session earlier in November 2023, Coffey gestured toward it with a smirk. Yet supervisors took no immediate action. By the time the second incident occurred eight days later, Hearns says he felt targeted, belittled, and emotionally distressed. Despite filing internal reports, the township’s lack of urgency deepened his concerns. The internal investigation was ultimately halted when the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office stepped in.
Surveillance Footage Captures a Noose Being Tied and Thrown
The surveillance footage at the center of the lawsuit shows Coffey handling a length of training rope inside the firehouse. The news clip overlays subtitles detailing Hearns’ account as footage displays Coffey tying a knot that tightens into a recognizable noose. Hearns was interviewed on camera in the clip. There, he explains how Coffey admired the knot, swung it in the air, and ensured it tightened properly before tossing it toward him.
The moment Hearns catches the rope is visible on the footage. He pauses, examining the knot in disbelief. In his interview, he recounts asking Coffey what the knot was supposed to be. Coffey responded by telling him to “figure it out.” Therefore, prompting Hearns to state outright that he recognized it as a hangman’s noose. The same type historically used in lynchings. Hearns says he asked Coffey if he thought it was funny. After that, only to be met with continued laughter from nearby firefighters.
The clip ends with the anchor reporting that Hearns has filed a lawsuit seeking $25 million for emotional distress, racial discrimination, and a hostile work environment. The newsroom presentation underscores that the footage is clear, the symbolism unmistakable, and the emotional harm evident. Hearns appears on camera visibly upset as he recalls the moment he held the rope. For viewers, the footage leaves little ambiguity about what the knot symbolized and how it was used.
Social Media and Public Reactions: Outrage, Defense, and Divided Narratives
The social reactions split into two sharply defined camps. First, supporters of Hearns argue that the video shows an obvious act of racial harassment. Thus, pointing out that nooses are widely recognized symbols of anti-Black violence. Many referenced historical noose incidents in workplaces, schools, and public institutions. Therefore, insisting that such behavior cannot be dismissed as harmless or accidental. Several users compared the incident to past fire department scandals involving racist hazing and discrimination. Thus, calling Hearns’ experience part of a nationwide pattern.
Those defending Hearns also criticized Bloomfield Township for allowing Coffey to remain employed after being charged with fourth-degree bias intimidation. The fact that Coffey entered a Pre-Trial Intervention program but kept his position — with the internal investigation stalled for nearly two years. That fueled further outrage. For these users, the lawsuit isn’t opportunistic; it’s overdue.
On the other side, skeptics claim the knot is a standard training knot used in firefighting and paramedic rope practice. These users often referenced the 2020 Bubba Wallace NASCAR incident, where an alleged noose was later determined to be a garage pull-down rope. But supporters of Hearns counter that, unlike Bubba Wallace’s situation, Hearns’ case involves a coworker swinging and taunting him with the rope. Thus, laughing openly, and repeating racially charged behavior that supervisors witnessed firsthand.
Even within the skeptical camp, arguments varied. Some denied racial intent and some dismissed the lawsuit as excessive. Meanwhile, others questioned Hearns’ motives altogether. Yet the overwhelming engagement on the post — including replies demanding broader investigations — suggests that most viewers saw the act as racially motivated and harmful.
The Larger Pattern: Nooses and Racism In Fire Departments Across the U.S.
The Bloomfield incident is far from isolated. Over the last decade, several major U.S. fire departments have confronted noose-related scandals. Therefore, sparking firings, resignations, and public mistrust. Departments in Miami, Philadelphia, and New York have all faced accusations of racially hostile environments involving nooses left in lockers, hung near equipment, or used in hazing rituals.
Within fire culture, where camaraderie and hierarchy are deeply ingrained. So, allegations of racism often collide with fears of retaliation or silence. For Black firefighters, reporting misconduct can lead to ostracization or threats to their career progression. Hearns’ lawsuit mirrors narratives shared nationwide. Black firefighters left out of social dynamics, treated differently during training, or subjected to racist jokes masked as “tradition.”
Symbols matter. A noose is not an ordinary knot. It carries a powerful legacy of racial terror. Hearns’ lawsuit cites the more than 4,700 documented lynchings of Black people in the United States between 1882 and 1968. By tying — and then swinging — a noose in front of a Black coworker, critics argue that Coffey invoked that history whether he intended to or not. Hearns’ lawsuit contends that Coffey’s actions were deliberate, malicious, and part of a larger pattern of racial harassment that the department failed to address.
Township Response and Legal Stakes: The $25 Million Question
Bloomfield Township’s public statements emphasize a “zero-tolerance policy for racism,” but officials have declined to comment directly on the lawsuit or on Coffey’s continued employment. By allowing Coffey to remain on payroll while the internal investigation remains in limbo, the township opens itself to allegations of institutional failure and negligence. These factors could significantly shape the lawsuit’s outcome.
The lawsuit alleges violations of federal civil rights law, the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. If successful, it could result in substantial damages and force systemic reforms within the department. It also seeks punitive damages against Coffey individually. Therefore, asserting that his conduct was intentional and harmful.
For Hearns, the financial request reflects what he describes as severe psychological distress. He took stress leave, was evaluated by psychologists (including those chosen by the township), and was diagnosed with emotional injuries linked to the workplace environment. Yet township officials disputed his workers’ compensation claim. Thus, forcing him to deplete his own sick leave while his case dragged on.
Conclusion: A Video Forces a Community to Confront Its Firehouse Culture
As the clip continues spreading, the Bloomfield firefighter noose case is becoming a national flashpoint for discussions about racism in public safety institutions. The surveillance footage — blunt, visible, and hard to reinterpret — has transformed Hearns’ lawsuit from a local controversy into a broader symbol of workplace discrimination and the hidden struggles Black firefighters endure.
Whether Bloomfield Township ultimately settles, reforms its department, or takes disciplinary action remains to be seen. But the video has already accomplished something significant. It exposed a culture that allowed a symbol of racial violence to appear in a firehouse, linger without accountability, and leave one firefighter questioning his place in a team that was supposed to protect him.
For many viewers, that is the true outrage. Not just the knot, but the system around it.