An African-American Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter filed a discrimination claim against her employer on Tuesday alleging that she was prevented “from covering major stories involving race based protests and demonstrations because of her race.”

Alexis Johnson, represented by employment law attorney Samuel Cordes, filed claims in federal court after the local newspaper removed Johnson from covering protests in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, for making statements about racial inequality on her personal Twitter account:

Horrifying scenes and aftermath from selfish LOOTERS who don’t care about this city!!!!!

…. oh wait sorry. No, these are pictures from a Kenny Chesney concert tailgate. Whoops. pic.twitter.com/lKRNrBsltU

— Alexis Johnson (@alexisjreports) May 31, 2020.

According to the complaint, Johnson, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Michael Santiago, and at least 80 other Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporters were barred from covering the protests after making statements condemning “racial bias and discrimination in a society that condemns African Americans who oppose racial injustice by protests that result in some property damage, while at [the same] time tolerates similar property damage by predominately white crowds who attend Chesney concerts.”

Notably, the complaint references how the newspaper did not remove reporters from covering the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting when they made similar public statements condemning discrimination. Johnson is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, compensation for the diminished career advancement she would have obtained had the newspaper not discriminated against her, and to enjoin the newspaper from further retaliation against her.

The lawsuit has garnered support from the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh and sparked deeper conversations about racial bias and the power of diversity in a city that has historically struggled with matters of racial equity.