Fired Palatine H.S. teacher sues local BLM organizer for defamation over Facebook posts accusing her of racism

A former teacher at Palatine High School has asked a court to order a local Black Lives Matter protest organizer to pay up for allegedly smearing her reputation, leading to her termination last year amid anti-racism protests in the suburban community last summer.

Plaintiff Jeanne Hedgepeth filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court against named defendant Tim McGowan.

According to the lawsuit, Hedgepeth had worked as a teacher for Township High School District 211 in northwest suburban Palatine, since 2000.

In the summer of 2020, McGowan helped to organize antiracism protests in Palatine, under the banner of Black Lives Matter.

According to published reports, at the time of the protests, Hedgepeth allegedly posted a message to her personal Facebook page, responding to the protests by saying, in part: “I find the term ‘white privilege’ as racist as the ‘N’ word. You have not walked in my shoes either so do not make assumptions about me and my so called privilege. You think America is racist? Then you have been hoodwinked by the white liberal establishment and race baiters like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.”

In her complaint, Hedgepeth asserts McGowan launched a campaign to get her fired, beginning in June 2020.

According to the complaint, McGowan posted a video to Facebook on June 15, 2020, which allegedly falsely accused McGowan of a number of allegedly racist acts.

Among these, Hedgepeth said McGowan said the teacher had:

• “Encouraged white students at Palatine High School to disrespect Black students;’
• “Encouraged a white student … to disrespect an Indian student in her classroom;”
• “Allowed a white student to get up and say, ‘I’m glad Donald Trump was elected so he could figure out a way to get rid of these ragheads;’”
• “Was destroying lives and validating ignorant little white boys and discouraging a brown lady;” and
• “Has dramatically disturbed students at Palatine High School.”

Hedgepeth was ultimately fired in July, with school officials allegedly citing her Facebook post as justification for her termination, according to published reports. In the complaint, Hedgepeth attributed her termination to “McGowan’s false and defamatory statements” which caused her to experience “humiliation and damage to her reputation.”

Hedgepeth is seeking damages of at least $50,000, according to the complaint.

Hedgepeth is represented in the action by attorney Joel F. Handler, of the Handler Law Group, of Chicago.