A former host at KCUR, the public radio station in Kansas City, alleges that the city’s mayor attempted to have him fired due to his activist work in the community.
Hartzell Gray filed a lawsuit this week that alleges that Quinton Lucas, the current mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, and a high-level aide attempted o have him fired after the radio host participated in a protest in 2022.
Gray made regular appearances with the group KC Tenants, an advocacy group for the rights of renters in the city. He attended a city council meeting in August of that year with members of the group to protest an ordinance that altered affordable housing requirements for real estate developers in the city. The group reportedly disrupted the meeting and the city council adjourned the meeting early due to the outbursts.
According to the lawsuit filed, the news director of KCUR was told that Gray’s conduct could “reflect poorly” on the public radio station and “damage how people see” the outlet. Gray alleges after the incident he was pulled from his weekend shift after the issue was broached by the mayor’s office with station management.
He ultimately departed KCUR in the fall of 2023, more than a year after the situation. An attorney for the former public radio host told The Kansas City Star that he “feels that if not for actions taken by the city, he would perhaps be in a different situation at KCUR.”
The Kansas City mayor has argued that the lawsuit is baseless.
“The claim at its core appears to be an employment suit between a former employee, Mr. Gray, and his former employer, KCUR, that endeavors to cast blame unfairly on the City and our former colleague and friend,” Lucas said. “The Mayor and the City visit regularly with the press, sharing facts, honest opinions, and feedback. We will leave it to KCUR an explanation for their own employment decisions. The claims against the City lack merit.”
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