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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA former Fort Wayne Community Schools employee is suing the district, alleging he was wrongfully fired for publicly criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement.
Robert L. Rinearson’s federal suit filed Friday contends the district violated his free speech rights and subjected him to racial discrimination. The district declined to comment.
The Journal Gazette reported Rinearson, who is white, was a safety and student management supervisor for 17 years when he was placed on paid suspension May 25 after physically guiding a disorderly student from a school bus to a school office.
Rinearson said he didn’t inappropriately physically restrain the student.
He says “the real reason” for his termination was his criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement in columns in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, including one published three days before his suspension.
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