{"id":131065,"date":"2021-08-31T16:15:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T16:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icrowdnewswire.com\/?p=2907446"},"modified":"2021-08-31T16:15:00","modified_gmt":"2021-08-31T16:15:00","slug":"maya-pembledon-responds-to-racist-lawsuit-filed-by-allison-publications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipsnews.net\/business\/2021\/08\/31\/maya-pembledon-responds-to-racist-lawsuit-filed-by-allison-publications\/","title":{"rendered":"Maya Pembledon Responds to \u201cRacist\u201d Lawsuit filed by Allison Publications"},"content":{"rendered":"

The lawsuit came in response to questions being posed about racial bias by D Magazine and its Editor Tim Rogers<\/em><\/p>\n

DENTON, TX – (EMAILWIRE<\/a>) – Describing the lawsuit against her as \u201cbaseless\u201d and \u201cracist,\u201d the woman sued by Allison Publications for questioning their business practices has responded, condemning the suit and claiming her news reporting efforts are protected by the First Amendment.<\/p>\n

In a statement filed with the court by her attorney, a woman using the pseudonym \u201cMaya Pembledon\u201d says she is \u201cbeing sued for questioning racist policies by D Magazine and its editor Tim Rogers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The case is\u00a0Allison Publications v. Jane Doe<\/em><\/a>, 21-4755-431 in the 431st Judicial District Court of Denton County. Allison Publications is the parent company of D Magazine.<\/p>\n

Pembledon testifies that she is a black woman, single mother, and freelance writer. She says she has been working on a piece about racial bias in local journalism, including at D Magazine.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite paying lip service to racial justice, these magazines often do not actually incorporate the voices and perspectives of people of color,\u201d Pembledon says in her declaration.<\/p>\n

Pembledon identifies three \u201cred flags\u201d in her statement that led her to question D Magazine\u2019s business practices:<\/p>\n

Red Flag #1: Who runs D Magazine?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The editor of D Magazine, Tim Rogers, is a white man. Their Editor in Chief, Christine Allison, is white. Their President, Gillea Allison, is white. In fact, everyone on their executive team is white and it appeared to me they operate on a family patronage system\u2014the very definition of white privilege.<\/p>\n

Red Flag #2: What is D Magazine\u2019s business model?<\/strong><\/p>\n

D Magazine appears to operate a business model that is ethically questionable. Their Editor in Chief Christine Allison also heads up their ad agency D Custom. This seems to give them a skewed incentive to prioritize paid advertisers over editorially significant works which can have disparate impact on covering stories important to people of color.<\/p>\n

Red Flag #3: Who is featured in D Magazine?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I looked through the \u201cBest in Dallas\u201d sections to get a sense of who is being featured. When I searched for best doctors, for example, I came upon the \u201cExpert Advice\u201d section which in fact is paid sponsored content advertising. And which doctors are featured? Well, out of the first 10 displayed, nine were white and the tenth was asian american. No black doctors were featured. Similarly, the \u201cExpert Advice\u201d section contained no black lawyers and no black dentists. In fact, I could not find a single black expert featured in the entire section. There are 7.5 million residents in the DFW Metroplex and not a single Black or Latinx expert could be found.<\/p>\n

After Pembeldon reached out to businesses listed in D Magazines\u2019 advertising to \u201crespectfully ask questions\u201d about the three issues, she says that\u2019s when she was hit with the pending lawsuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt appears to me they are assuming because I am a black woman who is asking questions about their business practices that I am automatically a liar with bad intentions and improper motives,\u201d adds Pembledon.<\/p>\n

According to Pembledon\u2019s attorney, Tony McDonald, she is fighting back against the lawsuit using the Texas Citizens Participation Act.<\/p>\n

\u201cTexas laws shield people like Maya from frivolous lawsuits like the one filed against her by D Magazine,\u201d said McDonald. \u201cWe are asking the court to throw out the suit and to award Maya her attorney\u2019s fees incurred in defending against it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comparing herself to famous writer Nellie Bly, Pembledon says she chose to use the \u201cnom de plume\u201d Maya Pembledon in order to protect herself from predatory lawsuits. She also notes the hypocrisy of D Magazine, who has used the TCPA in the past to defend itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor years and years, D Magazine has defended themselves when they have been sued under the banner of first amendment protections,\u201d says Pembledon. \u201cYet, it is obvious they don\u2019t believe such protections apply to independent black freelance writers like me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pembledon has sharp words for the people who sued her:<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that D Magazine, Allison Publications, Tim Rogers, Christine Allison, and Gillea Allison have demonstrated their racism and arrogance through the filing of this predatory lawsuit,\u201d says Pembledon. \u201cThey should be ashamed of themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pembeldon\u2019s complete statement regarding the lawsuit can be viewed\u00a0here<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Questions regarding the lawsuit can be directed to The Law Offices of Tony McDonald, 512-200-3608.<\/p>\n

Source: The Law Offices of Tony McDonald.<\/p>\n

About Company:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Law Offices of Tony McDonald is a law firm based in Leander, Texas and founded in 2013. The firm specializes in civil litigation, particularly in matters involving the defense of the First Amendment. The firm\u2019s founder, Tony McDonald, is licensed to practice law by the Texas Supreme Court and is admitted to practice in the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Federal District\u00a0Courts of Texas as well as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

Media Contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tony McDonald, Principal
\nThe Law Offices of Tony McDonald
\n512-200-3608
\ntony@tonymcdonald.com<\/a><\/p>\n

This press release is issued through EmailWire.com (www.emailwire.com<\/a>) \u2013 a global newswire with press release distribution services.<\/p>\n

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