City leaders are calling for an investigation into the FDNY’s training curriculum and practices after a video surfaced recently showing students of color carrying cotton balls with their hands tied behind their backs. "Forcing Black and brown students to carry cotton balls with their hands tied behind their backs is not only demeaning, it is blatant racism, plain and simple," said Councilmember Rita Joseph, who chairs the Committee on Education. The incident occurred in an FDNY training classroom in Queens during a summer youth program and was first reported by PIX11. An FDNY spokesperson said once officials became aware of the incident, the department fired the employee in charge and launched an investigation. "We need a full and honest assessment of the curriculum and practices within this program, because the very fact that this activity was ever allowed speaks to a deeper problem of racism embedded within training practices at the FDNY," she said.