Former Shreveport Council Clerk Alleges Discrimination and Harassment in Lawsuit
SHREVEPORT, La. – In a fresh legal escalation, Shanerika Flemings, a former Shreveport City Council clerk accused her superiors of relentless racial and gender discrimination. This alleged routine led to her dismissal in the Fall of 2024.
The Accusations
In a 14-page lawsuit filed on Monday, Flemings detailed allegations against certain City Council members. She stated they frequently used racial slurs and behaved unprofessionally towards her. These accusations were vocalized in an almost 8-minute long public tirade shortly before her firing.
The Lawsuit Details
Flemings’ lawsuit alleges that these instances of discrimination and harassment began upon her employment in February 2023. The violations were said to be perpetuated primarily by Councilman Gary Brooks. Flemings further claimed that Brooks had made racial comments, believing that he could slander Black women without consequence.
Despite showcasing his offensive behavior in the presence of others, and being explicitly informed by Flemings that his remarks were inappropriate and undesired, Councilman Brooks’s conduct reportedly persisted, becoming a pervasive problem in the workplace.
The Termination and Lawsuit Repercussions
Because Flemings was fired on Sept. 12, just after she reported these allegations, the lawsuit asserts that her termination was in retaliation for her actions. The City Council, according to her lawyer, violated its charter by dismissing her without proper documentation and denying her due process.
City Attorney Marcus Edwards declined to comment on the legal matter at Monday’s council meeting. Meanwhile, Brooks’s legal representative refuted Flemings’ allegations, stating that no communications between her client and Flemings indicated racial or sexual misconduct on his part.
The Pending Results
Brooks is currently seeking legal reparations against Flemings and other parties for alleged defamation. Moreover, Flemings lodged a discrimination complaint against the city with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in October and is still awaiting her notice to sue.
As part of her lawsuit, Flemings is seeking monetary compensation, the payment of her attorney fees, and the rescindment of her firing, which would entitle her to her former council clerk position, along with back pay.
