by Sondra Wilson. Reposted 8/7/2024.
The Iowa Civil Rights Commission was established in 1965 to investigate discrimination complaints. BIPOC and LGBT+, women who face discrimination based on sex, disabled people, and other vulnerable populations have depended upon the Commission for years to help resolve discrimination-based complaints. On May 17 this year, Governor Reynolds, who is notorious for repeatedly eroding the state’s legal protections for minorities, decommissioned the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, turning into a mere Advisory Panel. A major problem with this is that Iowa’s Attorney General has repeatedly gone after, for example, transgender people, ardently fighting lawsuits to strip legal protections away. Do you think the State will heed the advice of a mere advisory panel? Advice can be ignored. The Reynolds Administration is attempting to leave a large percentage of Iowa’s most vulnerable populations with nowhere to turn when discrimination occurs.
My lawsuit seeks a court order to compel the state to recommission the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, and strengthen the manner in which they handle complaints to make them more effective. Here are the improvements I requested:
SAVE THE DATE!! August 9 at 9 am at the Polk County Historic Courthouse, courtroom #310!!
This coming Friday, on August 9 at the Polk County Historic Courthouse, located at 500 Mulberry St in Des Moines in courtroom 310, there will be a hearing to hear arguments regarding my amended petition, the State’s motion to dismiss, and my resistance to their motion. Judge Michael Huppert will decide if my case moves forward or not. If my case moves forward, there will likely be another hearing scheduled soon after to determine if the court will allow the case to proceed as a class action (scroll down to learn more about that). PDF of below flier: Aug 9 flier – call to action for civil rights. My sincere gratitude to the Iowa Citizen who made this amazing flier. Thank you so much for helping people see how important this call to action is!
Wilson v. STATE OF IOWA and KIM REYNOLDS FOR IOWA.; a four-part lawsuit:
i. Wilson alleges local officials caused her to remain homeless for 8 years
ii. A Class Action for Transgender Iowans was recently launched against the State
iii. Wilson alleges “fraudulent misrepresentation” by Iowa Civil Rights Commission. Wilson seeks court order to compel the State to improve the Commission’s process.
Related Lawsuit:
It was my experience with trying to find help from the State with this situation which led to the lawsuit against the State:
Sondra Wilson sues two Ames businesses in discrimination lawsuit
BIG updates!!!
Following numerous legal filings, Judge Gronewald steps down
Wilson challenges sections of Iowa Code as unconstitutional; awaits State’s response
The following is an article I began to write prior to Kim’s shutting down of the Commission:
- The process the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) has in place tilts the scales of justice in favor of businesses (against victims) in discrimination cases.
- although Iowa Code §614.1(2) sets the limitations period for “injury to person or reputation” to two years, filing with ICRC effectively and substantially reduces the amount of time victims have to file in court.
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- When IRRC administratively closes a case (decides not to investigate), they withhold the evidence sent to them by the business from the victim. Instead they send their assessment of the evidence. This can prevent victims from proving their case within their appeal, as it did in my case.
- According to the Story County Attorney’s Office, it is legal for a business to lie to ICRC in order to get away with discrimination
- Although Iowa Admin. Code r. 161—3.12(1)(f) If the information indicates a “reasonable possibility of a probable cause determination or the legal issues in the complaint need development” the Commission will “screen in” a case for further investigation.
I will use my case against Reliable Street and Lockwood Café as an example. I filed a complaint with ICRC on April 29, 2022. On Aug. 3 I received notice that ICRC was “administratively closing” my case. The notice included ICRC’s Preliminary Case Review, which described pieces of evidence the President of Reliable Street and Owner of Lockwood Café sent to ICRC. Here is an excerpt which
- Here is how ICRC’s process adversely affected my case after filing a complaint against Lockwood Café and neighboring non-profit Reliable Street on April 29, 2022:
- On August 3, 2022 ICRC administratively closed my case (decided not to investigate). Instead of sending me the evidence that the businesses sent to them (e.g. text messages), ICRC sent me their their assessment of the evidence. Had they sent me the evidence at that time, I could have easily proved that Lockwood Café Employee #1 lied about me in order to get me kicked off the property, and that someone (either her or the Owner of Lockwood Café) tampered with evidence in order to convince ICRC that I was a sexual predator when in fact I was the victim of very damaging allegations which – especially as a transgender woman – jeopardize my safety.
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- Instead of sending me the evidence that the businesses sent to them (e.g. text messages), ICRC sent me
The above graphic is reposted from O’Dea High School’s Facebook page, and is being used for First Amendment purposes in accordance with the U.S. Copyright Office’s Fair Use policy.