Former Executive Sues Food Outreach Over Alleged Political Discrimination

Justin Kralemann, a former senior director of development and strategic initiatives at Food Outreach Inc., has filed a lawsuit against the nonprofit organization, claiming he was wrongfully terminated due to his political views expressed on social media. The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis on February 23, 2023, just days after Kralemann was placed on administrative leave on February 18. His leave followed a post criticizing Enterprise Mobility and St. Louis City SC regarding immigration enforcement and restrictions on Pride and Black Lives Matter symbols.

The Advocate

Kralemann alleges that his posts, made outside of work hours and unrelated to Food Outreach, were the sole reason for his suspension and subsequent termination. He contends that he had operated his social media platform, “The Woke Ginger,” for 18 months without objection from the organization, during which he garnered approximately 1.1 million followers. The lawsuit claims that Food Outreach leadership was aware of his platform and had previously expressed support for it.

The Advocate

The complaint highlights that no organizational policy prohibited employees from expressing political views on public issues. Kralemann asserts that he had not faced any warnings or disciplinary actions for similar content in the past. He claims that the decision to terminate him was influenced by a board member of Food Outreach who is a senior leader at Enterprise Mobility, the company he criticized.

The Advocate

Missouri law protects employees from discrimination based on political beliefs, allowing individuals to bring civil claims if these protections are violated. Kralemann's lawsuit alleges that Food Outreach's actions constituted a violation of this statute, as well as wrongful termination in violation of public policy. He is seeking damages, including back pay, front pay, lost benefits, and attorneys’ fees, and has requested a jury trial.

The Advocate

Food Outreach has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. Kralemann stated, “I remain deeply committed to the communities I advocate for... I look forward to addressing these issues through the legal process while continuing to focus on my work.” The organization, founded in 1988, provides medically tailored meals, groceries, and nutritional counseling to nearly 2,000 low-income clients across Missouri and western Illinois.

The Advocate

Critics of Kralemann's termination argue that organizations should maintain a neutral stance on political issues to avoid conflicts of interest, especially when employees publicly criticize corporate partners. However, Kralemann's supporters contend that his right to free speech should be protected, particularly when his comments were made in a personal capacity and did not directly reference his employer.

The Advocate

While Kralemann's lawsuit claims that his termination was directly linked to his social media activity, the specific internal processes leading to his suspension and firing remain unclear. There are no public records detailing any formal review process that led to these actions, raising questions about the organization's adherence to its own policies regarding employee conduct and political expression.

The Advocate