Film Talent Manager & Journalist Gibble Filed Lawsuit Against His Former Employer, Sonoma Media Investments for Sexual Harassment & Racial Discrimination
In June '24, Gibble filed a lawsuit against Press Democrat Owner Sonoma Media for refusing to allow him to write about a black actor, claimed Publisher only allowed Caucasian celebrity columns
On June 18, 2024, talent manager and film critic Don Gibble, a recent journalist for Sonoma Media Investments filed a lawsuit against his former employer for unlimited wrongful termination.
Sonoma Media Investments owns the following Sonoma County based publications:
The Press Democrat
Sonoma Index-Tribune
Petaluma Argus-Courier
North Bay Business Journal
Sonoma County Gazette
Sonoma Magazine
La Prensa Sonoma
The media giant is owned by Mr. Darius Anderson, owner of Platinum Advisors lobbying and government affairs firm, Kenwood Investments and Wing & Barrel Ranch.
The docket stated:
This complaint filed by Plaintiff Don Gibble against Defendants Sonoma Media Investments, LLC and Does 1 through 100 includes causes of action for Sexual Orientation Discrimination, Sexual Orientation Harassment, Associational Race Discrimination, Retaliation, Wrongful Termination, and Failure to Timely Pay Wages Due/Waiting Time Penalties. Plaintiff alleges that he was discriminated against based on his sexual orientation and association with a protected class, leading to his termination. The complaint outlines instances of discriminatory actions, harassment, and failure to pay wages, seeking damages, restitution, attorney fees, and other relief as deemed appropriate by the court. The Plaintiff demands a jury trial for the case.
The general allegations were summarized as follows:
Beginning in or around May 2014, and lasting until his unlawful termination in or around July 2021, Plaintiff was employed by Defendant as a writer and columnist for the Sonoma County Gazette. Plaintiff’s job duties and responsibilities included, but were not limited to, writing movie reviews for the Sonoma County Gazette, amongst others.
At all times relevant hereto, Plaintiff competently and adequately performed each and every one of his employment duties and responsibilities and, prior to the events giving rise to this action, Plaintiff had no issues with his employer.
In or around May 2021, Plaintiff was writing a column about actor Samuel L. Jackson. While Plaintiff was in the process of completing the column, he was contacted by Amie Windsor, Defendant’s Community Journalism Team Lead and Publisher. Windsor advised Plaintiff that she would not allow his column about an African American actor to be published and that he should instead replace his work with a column about a Caucasian actor.
Plaintiff believed that Windsor’s order was unlawful and discriminatory based on race and, as such, Plaintiff opposed the order. In further discrimination and/or retaliation, Windsor shot back at Plaintiff’s opposition and told him words to the effect of, “Well, I won’t need you to write the column at all anymore since you are gay, and this is a family-oriented city.
Plaintiff engaged in further protected activity when he opposed Windsor’s continued discrimination and retaliation. Specifically, Plaintiff advised Windsor that his sexual orientation was irrelevant to whether his work could or should be published. Nevertheless, Windsor ignored Plaintiff’s protected activity and refused to publish his column in further discrimination and/or retaliation.
Defendant then terminated Plaintiff in July 2021.
In or around July 2021, Plaintiff contacted Defendant to ask about his paycheck for June (which he had not received) and to inquire about the status of his employment with Defendant. In further discrimination and/or retaliation, Defendant never responded to Plaintiff.
Plaintiff never received his last paycheck, nor has he heard from Defendant since that time.
Plaintiff’s health and career has been materially and adversely affected and irreparably harmed and damaged by Defendants’ conduct. Defendants, and each of them, discriminated against Plaintiff because of his sexual orientation, perceived sexual orientation, and/or association with a member of a protected class, and retaliated against Plaintiff for engaging in protected activity by reporting and opposing violations of law, including violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act. Plaintiff was discriminated and retaliated against for exercising his rights as alleged herein.
As a direct and proximate consequence of exercising such rights—which constitutes protected activity under state and federal law—Defendants, and each of them, retaliated against, discriminated against, and subjected Plaintiff to adverse employment actions. Those adverse employment actions include but are not limited to subjecting Plaintiff to discriminatory and retaliatory comments and conduct, refusing to pay Plaintiff, and terminating Plaintiff.
Plaintiff has suffered both general and special damages in the past and present and will continue to suffer such damages in the future for an unknown period of time. Plaintiff has also suffered and continues to suffer losses in earnings and other employment benefits, as well as past and future non-economic injury. Moreover, Defendants’ unlawful conduct has adversely affected Plaintiff’s personal health and well-being. Plaintiff has also suffered extensive general damages in the form of anxiety, anguish, and mental suffering. Plaintiff’s damages are continuing and in an amount not yet determined, but in excess of the jurisdictional minimum of this Court.
he conduct of Defendants, and each of them, was a violation of Plaintiff’s rights, as described above, as well as his rights under both state and federal law, including the Fair Employment and Housing Act (Cal. Gov’t C. §§ 12940, etseq) as well as for wrongful termination and/or constructive termination in violation of public policy.
Ms. Amie Windsor was employed as Publisher of The Sonoma County Gazette from October 2020 - May 2024. She shifted to a role as Community Journalism Team Lead with Sonoma Media Investments as of May 2024.
She is the former Field Director for Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins.
I am also a former contributor to The Sonoma Gazette.
I was allowed the opportunity to write a single article which was submitted to Ms. Windsor and published in December 2021:
How we define equality in Sonoma County has consequences
At the heart of Sonoma County, you will discover the City of Healdsburg, a staple to the Wine Country which attracts tourists from around the world. While this quaint little town may appear picturesque on the outside, prominent racism has reared its grotesque head within the city limits.
In recent weeks, Healdsburg Councilmember Skylaer Palacios, an Afro-Latina woman has been exiled from entering the Council Chambers due to her vaccination status. Although Ms. Palacios completes a PCR test weekly, the Council does not deem this sufficient to protect their health. This is quite curious since 15 miles away; in the City of Santa Rosa any individual may enter the Chamber regardless of vaccination status, including a formerly unvaccinated Vice Mayor Natalie Rogers. While the City of Santa Rosa just adopted a resolution declaring racism a public health and human rights crisis, the City of Healdsburg has been continually adamant that racial discrimination is not an issue within their domain.
Just last year, the City of Healdsburg was featured in the media with the headline, ‘I wouldn’t raise kids here’: Residents grapple with racism in Healdsburg. “We don’t have this issue in our town,” Former Mayor Leah Gold stated. There appears to be a discrepancy regarding the issue of racism between the residents and those governing their city. A public commenter at a recent council meeting indicated that Ms. Palacios only holds her current position because she is a woman of color that met a diversity quota, rather than her qualifications.
At the most recent Healdsburg Council Meeting which took place on Dec. 6, 2021, protestors gathered outside City Hall to show their support for Ms. Palacios and medical freedom. During the public comment period, I stated my commentary in both Spanish and English. The Council had no translation service available and does not provide council meeting agendas/information in any languages aside from English. If equity is lacking at the governance level by means of excluding Spanish speakers, this principle is plausible in every sector.
A local nonprofit, Corazón Healdsburg which was co-founded by Council Member Ariel Kelley has also been under attack for contrived inequity. During my public comment, I stated that according to their website, they are a mission-driven human rights organization that believes in human dignity and human rights. As Aristotle has been telling us for more than 2,000 years, justice is only achieved when we have equality. According to him, there's nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals. People should be treated equitably and ethically, given their individual needs and circumstances and the differences between people should be recognized and valued, not diminished. Our community is not demanding too much when commenting on the Healdsburg City Council’s rule that only vaccinated individuals can attend council meetings in person. We just want a compassionate and just community. Based on this inevitably contradictory mission statement, I'd like to inquire why your incredible council member Skylar Palacios, an Afro-Latina woman has been denied entrance to the council chambers.
Following my public comment, CEO Glaydon de Freitas has been receiving an abundant number of inquiries regarding the validity of Corazón Healdsburg’s mission and values. The scrutiny has developed due to the organization’s pro-vaccination stance. As Ms. Palacios has expressed, people of color are less trusting of our government due to the maltreatment they continue to experience. While the organization has stated that all Latinx individuals desire to be vaccinated, this does not accurately reflect the views of Latinos in the vaccine debate. For instance, neither Ms. Palacios nor her family (Healdsburg residents) wish to be vaccinated by their own free will.
With an 80% Caucasian population, the bulk of large businesses in the City of Healdsburg are owned by Caucasian individuals. These are the folks who are developing company policies and their implementation. Undocumented employees are already afraid to cause a rift with their employer. They may feel uncomfortable vocalizing their displeasure with a vaccine mandate as it could result in the loss of employment, and the inability to provide for their families. The true definition of equity is the quality of being fair or impartial. I have requested for Corazón Healdsburg to survey their Latinx community to confirm who truly felt vaccination was the right choice for them vs. who felt coerced by their employer, family or government. The organization has not yet responded to this request.
“Justice that is not rooted in equity, in social welfare, and in community is not justice at all.” -DeRay Mckesson
This column has been updated to correctly attributed a quotation to Leah Gold.
Initially, Ms. Windsor was very kind to me by phone and agreed that she did not wish to vaccinate her children. Our initial communications were well received as exchanged on December 13, 2021:
I’m floored by it and by your strength. Seriously, thank you for submitting to the Gazette.
AW
I responded:
Amie,
Thank you so much for your willingness to share this piece! I am a biracial woman of East Indian, Portuguese, Russian and German descent. However, I have spent my entire life in Sonoma County and am highly immersed in the Latino community. These people are not only my friends, but I consider them as family. I want everyone to have a voice, especially those who are fearful of speaking up. I think this will be a step in the right direction to encourage others to find their own strength. :)
After my article was published, I was attacked by Caucasian men who subscribe to the publication. They labeled me as a Marxist and ‘crazy’ for speaking the truth.
After Ms. Windsor received backlash from the community for publishing my piece, she would not communicate with me further whatsoever. Calls and emails went unanswered for multiple seasons.
Nearly a year later, she finally responded as I indicated I would be filing a lawsuit for defamation of character. The Gazette appeared to publish a defamatory Letter to the Editor. We exchanged the following correspondence:
Good Afternoon,
I am extremely appalled that Mr. Darius Anderson currently serves on your Board of Directors. Mr. Anderson has attempted to drag my name through the mud over the past year via the media sources he owns within the County of Sonoma. I’m no longer allowed to write for his publication, The Sonoma Gazette, after discussing the racism within the County. Of course, my comments also derail the monetary interests of Mr. Anderson as he is lobbying for multiple pharmaceutical companies and medical facilities through his lobbying firm Platinum Advisors. Please ask him how much “immediate relief” the fire victims received as he chose to lobby for PG&E with the donations.
The Sonoma Gazette (owned by Mr. Anderson) felt it was appropriate to publish a restraining order I received in 2018 as referenced in a recent Letter to the Editor from a local citizen who apparently is deeply misinformed. I’ve shared a very small part of my story with you below so you can better understand my frustration. I’ve continually received death threats and racism as these media sources attempt to highlight me as a criminal. I’ve attempted to connect with The Gazette/Press Democrat by phone and email and they completely refuse to respond. They absolutely understand that this is completely wrong. They have now removed this article from their digital publication after printing it for the entire community to read.
Why is Mr. Anderson influencing the California school system in any way, shape or form? He’s promoting racism and discrimination towards people of color and I’m supposed to believe he has the best interest of our students and staff in mind? I’d like to ensure that your Foundation has no involvement with any of the Sonoma County school districts. I do not wish for anyone else to experience the maltreatment I’ve been subjected to. Please let me know how you’ll be handling this matter immediately. Ms. Windsor, Mr. Green, and Ms. Toernqvist, please confirm why you’ve continually referenced my name in a negative manner, yet refuse to allow me to make a single statement within your publication. You are further proving the racism within this county as wealthy Caucasians continue to control the political narrative.
Thank you.
Hi Adina,
We haven’t published any letters to the editor online, so I’m not quite sure what you’re linking to. The letter to the editor that was published in the newspaper makes mention of no names, so I think you’re jumping to unnecessary conclusions.
As for being banned from writing for the Gazette, I have never made mention of such a thing. Every person who lives in Sonoma County is welcome to submit a piece to our newspaper. I cannot promise publication, however, as we have limited print space. We are able to publish more pieces on our website, but we do have a certain standard for publication.
You can find the deadlines to all of our upcoming publications on our website.
Cheers,
Amie
Ms. Windsor,
This is a blatant lie as several members of the community brought the letter to my attention. Should I re-forward the dozens of other emails I’ve sent you which you and your staff never responded to? Why did you choose to wait until now to respond since the government has been looped in? I’ve copied the full verbiage from the letter your publication initially shared. I’ve once again also pasted the screenshot of the article you’ve now removed due to complete defamation of character. I wrote about the racism in this county and you refused to ever speak to me again after my article was published. Please confirm why you’re continuing to blatantly lie to my face.
The Press Democrat is historically known for their racism against the black community. Sonoma State University’s Library published archives from the publication:
‘No Negroes Need Apply’ is the [1870] Press Democrat headline on a story indicating that the county clerk will not register blacks to vote, saying he ‘can't see any change in the Constitution.’ — LeBaron, Gaye. “A Town’s History Is Not Always What We'd Like It to Be.” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, January 17, 1988.
The Great Migration of the 1920s saw major population shifts when African Americans from the South moved en masse to northern cities like Detroit, Chicago, and New York. Only later during what scholars refer to as the Second Great Migration in the early 1940s did a large number of African Americans migrate west to California from southern and northern U.S. cities alike. Northern California held a certain promise for these Black travelers, who sought economic opportunities afforded by the bustling Bay Area as well as refuge from southern racism and northern segregation. However, upon their arrival in the North Bay, many Black Americans would encounter a harsh reality of discrimination and racial bigotry. Many white residents in the North Bay did not welcome African Americans as their neighbors and co-workers, leading to housing and employment discrimination, increased residential segregation, ‘white flight’ into the suburbs, rampant racial tensions, police brutality, and humiliations of all types.
Today fewer than two percent of Sonoma County residents are African American — making the county one of the least populated by African Americans across all of Northern California. Yet the paucity of Black representation in Sonoma County is no indication that the region lacks in remarkable Black stories and pioneers. Even in the face of persistent racism, African Americans of the North Bay thrived, accumulating wealth, property, political clout, and a legacy that has left an indelible mark on Sonoma County as we know it today.
Santa Rosa did have Black residents of course, but it would be a stretch to suggest that there were enough to be considered a ‘Black community.’ There were, however, Black citizens who were trying hard to make that happen.
— LeBaron, Gaye. “Santa Rosa’s Fight to Equity Has a Long Way to Go.” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 22, 2020.
In March 2024, The County of Sonoma labeled racism as a ‘public health crisis’. Is the racism being perpetuated by our local media in conjunction with the politicians they endorse?
“If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
-Malcolm X