A Utica city firefighter who is alleging discrimination based on his gender and religious beliefs has filed an amended civil complaint with the help of new religious-rights lawyers
John Brooks, son of former Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks, said in court papers he's been subjected to a hostile work environment, threatened with disciplinary action, harassed and ridiculed because he refuses to cut his hair. The original complaint was filed in federal court in December 2016.
Brooks, a Utica firefighter since 2006, is a "Nazirite" and as such can't cut his hair, the lawsuit says. A Nazirite is someone who has taken a vow to God not to cut his head hair, not to drink alcohol and not to come into contact with corpses or graves.