Update: Anderson’s Lawyer Responds, Details Below
JONESBORO, Ark. – The decision to terminate Rachel Anderson from the City of Jonesboro for speaking at a public meeting was upheld Wednesday.
Anderson filed an appeal following the termination. Chief Operating Officer Tony Thomas, who reports directly to the mayor, made the decision to uphold the termination today, the letter shows.
Source: City of Jonesboro, via records request
Anderson’s Lawyer Responds
Anderson has retained the services of Little Rock lawyer Luther Sutter, who agreed to speak to NEA Report about this case, the appeal, and what comes next. Sutter, a veteran trial lawyer known for representing the working class, has handled thousands of civil rights cases and secured the first punitive award in Arkansas’s history against a public entity.
Deliberate in his choice of words, Sutter unequivocally stated his belief that Anderson’s termination was unlawful.
“Every citizen has a right to address the city council,” Sutter said. “We always hear about the free speech component of the First Amendment but we also have rights under the petition clause. In our country, we still have the right to appear before our legislative body and express our opinion. And that’s precisely what Ms. Anderson did.”
Sutter demands that the city reverses course and, “does right.”
Sutter also said he demands the city stop stigmatizing his client in the community. The fiery lawyer specifically mentioned a statement from the city’s police chief that asserted Anderson never cleared her comments with her co-worker before speaking for them. Anderson herself rebuked this in an interview with a photo of a text message thread showing her co-worker’s approval of her comments.
“The first thing that is going to happen is that the city will be given the opportunity to make this right,” Sutter said. “The second thing that is going to happen is, if they don’t make it right, I’m going to sue them until the cows come home.”
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This is so wrong on every level. The funny thing is that JPD has a radio add stating, “If ya see something, say something” & this employee did just that & she got fired, so why would the public say anything. What oxymoron $hit is that. The add needs no more play time on the airwaves. Take it down!! The “Good Ol’boys”, got mad because she should’ve stayed in her place, she was toooo woke for them. 🤭🤭🤭
I was a city employee and my mother was the city clerk treasure believe me I know all about small town politics. The city of Jonesboro looks to be in violation of this lady’s rights and it does appear the good old boy system is the one responsible. I did not like the chief police’s comments on region 8 news about her they were very condescending I knew right then and there this lady was being violated. I hope you do see them till the cows come home because they deserve it. It’s time to set a new standard for public employees and their managers to uphold the law and their own employee handbook end of subject!!!
As always it looks like the city trying to hide something from the public. Mrs Anderson as a Jonesboro tax payer has every right to voice her opinions. The city does a lot of things I don’t care for or some of the stuff we have to pay for that money could be used better. We have streets here you can barely get 2 cars down and if you met a school bus on them you have to put one wheel in the ditch. Go look at Warren St