Yonkers African-American leaders want Firefighter Richard LaPeruta fired, and not promoted, for a racist post he made on Facebook two years ago.

The debate over what should be done with fireman LaPeruta has been ongoing since his post on Facebook in 2017, which included a photo of an African-American man with his arm around an ape.

Above the photo was written: “Father reconnects with son after abandoning him 13 years earlier.”

LaPeruta posted above the photo: “First and second on the new YFD test.”

LaPeruta was suspended and had 75 days of salary withheld.

The Rev. Frank Coleman, pastor of Messiah Baptist Church and president of the NAACP Yonkers Branch along with City Councilwoman Shanae Williams joined in the objections to LaPeruta’s promotion and expressed outrage.

LaPeruta was on the YFDs promotion list since 2018, and has been passed over multiple times.

A press advisory on YFD promotions initially did not include LaPeruta’s name upsetting many community residents who said a cover up was taking place.

On Sept. 11 of last week, LaPeruta released an apology letter.

The fact that LaPeruta’s apology came three years late for many, and also released Sept. 11, drew criticism from elected officials and clergy in Yonkers.

If LaPeruta were not to be fired, then some argue that Mayor Mike Spano could have passed on LaPeruta’s promotion and let the promotion list expire.