Two ex-Fort Valley firefighters have filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city implicating its former public safety director.

The former firefighters say ex-Public Safety Director John Anderson used racial and abusive language toward black police and firefighters, and only hired white people to work with the department.

Anderson says he was put on paid leave after filing a complaint when a councilmember told him not to hire white or Hispanic employees. He says he was fired amid allegations of sexual harassment that were later recanted, and is trying to get his job back through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Anderson says the firefighters were targeted for disciplinary action and resigned. The firefighters say black employees were disciplined for things that white employees weren't.

Tags: Fort Valley, racial discrimination, firefighters, discrimination