Old Articles
About The Lockwood/Reliable Case
Written before the defendants sabotaged my Spring 2025 semester at ISU
by Sondra Wilson. Updated July 20, 2025.

At first I redacted names and tried to resolve this privately, as you can see in the first article, but defendants took advantage of this, causing additional harm while capitalizing upon the fact that my case was not being noticed in the public eye. Now, everything is being made public so the evidence can speak for itself, I can clear my name of the horrible allegations they put into the public record, and so I can obtain restitution for the repeated and ongoing injuries the defendants have caused and continue to cause.

Aug. 2024: Original Article about the Lockwood/Reliable Case — In early 2024, I was genuinely excited to get involved with Reliable Street—I volunteered at open mics, helped manage the garden, and felt embraced by the community. Lockwood Café even gave me a discount, and I really believed in what they were building. But after six months of showing up and contributing, I was suddenly ghosted—no explanation, just silence. When I filed a discrimination claim with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, things got even worse. Five people connected to Reliable and Lockwood submitted what I believe were false statements—and one even turned in a completely falsified document. The Commission dismissed my case based on those lies. What was once a hopeful, collaborative space turned into a tight-knit clique that I feel deliberately tried to destroy my credibility. I never wanted this to escalate—I tried to resolve things peacefully—but when forced into a legal battle, I stood firm. Our first court hearing was August 12, 2024, and I’m still awaiting a decision from Judge Currie.

Jan. 2025: Has the Iowa Civil Rights Commission Failed You? Share your story— When I filed a discrimination complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, I believed I had provided clear, compelling evidence—but instead of investigating, they closed my case without explanation, just like they do with more than half of all complaints across the state. I later discovered Iowa has one of the worst probable cause rates in the nation—just 1.20%—meaning the vast majority of civil rights complaints are dismissed without ever seeing a courtroom. That’s why I’m speaking out and asking: Has the Iowa Civil Rights Commission failed you too? If you’ve experienced a similar dismissal or felt ignored by the system, please share your story. I’m helping build a coalition—Citizens for an Effective Civil Rights Commission—so that together, we can demand accountability and create an agency that truly defends the rights of Iowans.