Emerald Society

The Emerald Society is an Irish American fraternal organization whose members come from Law Enforcement, Fire Service and Non-Uniform Civil Service Agencies. Each Emerald Society is separate and distinct from each other. The first Emerald Society NYPD (NYC Police Department) Emerald Society was founded in 1953. The NYCD (NYC Correction Dept) Emerald Society was founded in 1955 by James Mulvey. The FDNY (NYC Fire Dept) Emerald Society was founded by Michael C. Donohue in New York City on March 17, 1956 (St. Patrick's Day) to preserve the music, culture, language and traditions of Ireland,[1] but primarily to protect Irish firefighters.[2] The New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) Emerald Society (Subway engineers, conductors, tradesman and support staff) was founded in 1961. Emerald Societies are now found in most major U.S. cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, WI, Jersey City, NJ, District of Columbia, Boston, Chicago, San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Saint Paul, Colorado, Baltimore and Cincinnati. Federal law enforcement officers such as Special Agents and Customs and Border Protection officers and who are of Irish/Gaelic descent are eligible to join the Emerald Society of the Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.

Suburban firemen marching in New York's St Patrick Day parade

The organization known as the National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies (NCLEES) states that its objectives are:

  • To unite all public safety Emerald Societies in order to develop fraternalism amongst its members.
  • To preserve the Irish culture and to promote the contributions of our ancestors.
  • To recognize the accomplishments of Irish-Americans in Law Enforcement and other public safety professions.
  • To exchange information and enhance communications among member organizations and to start new public safety Emerald Societies.
  • To provide a unified and effective voice for its member organizations to the Congress of the United States and other government institutions.
  • To work with civic and public safety associations on areas of mutual concerns.[3]

While the organization is geared toward Irish-American culture, Irish heritage is not listed as a requirement for membership.

In the context of the political debate over police brutality in the United States, concerns have been raised about pro-white, anti-Black Lives Matter memes such as "Irish Lives Matter" and the association of Irish heritage with police.[4][5]

References
  1. Urbanowicz, G. R. (2002). Badges of the Bravest: A Pictorial History of the Fire Departments in New York City. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company
  2. http://fdnyemerald.org/mission.html
  3. N.C.L.E.E.S
  4. Black Lives Matter and the ‘Irish slave’ myth
  5. Conor Lamb on Biden's Everyman Appeal and Rashawn Ray on the Aftershock of Kenosha
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