Florida Firefighters Fear Losing Their Jobs to Vaccine Mandates

Florida Firefighters Fear Losing Their Jobs to Vaccine Mandates
Jon and Jennifer Cicio look at Jon's accomplishments as a 17-year firefighter for the city of Gainesville, at his home in Gainesville, Fla., on Sept. 17, 2021. Jann Falkenstern/The Epoch Times
Updated:

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—When Hurricane Dorian decimated The Bahamas in September 2019, he answered the call; when the Surfside condominium towers fell in June, he answered the call. It’s what he does and what he loves to do­. But Jon Cicio is ready to give it all up to stand on principle.

On Aug. 5, the city of Gainesville narrowly voted through a “vaccinate or terminate” policy for its employees. As a result, Cicio and other first responders for Gainesville, through their attorney Jeff Childers, have filed a brief for emergency injunctive relief. On Monday, Judge Monica Brazington of the Eighth Circuit for Alachua County will hear from both sides of the issue. For Cicio, the choice to join the lawsuit was clear.