Clayton County Watch - NAACP Members Charges School Board Member Violated Her

A Clayton County NAACP board member has accused the school system’s attorney of threatening her and violating her First Amendment rights.

A Clayton County NAACP board member has accused the school system’s attorney of threatening her and violating her First Amendment rights.

Linda Granger filed a complaint with the State Bar of Georgia on Tuesday against Clayton County schools general counsel Julie Lewis.

Granger, a community activist for special-needs children, accused Lewis of violating the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct.

“I thought not only citizens should abide by the law, but every lawyer should maintain a higher level of integrity and professional conduct,” said Granger, of Riverdale.

On Feb. 2, Granger addressed the school board at a public meeting, accusing Lewis of not fully responding to an open records request.

Following the meeting, Lewis told Granger and another woman that they “better watch themselves” and threatened to sue them for defamation, according to Granger’s complaint.

Granger said Lewis then “got in [her] face” and refused to back away while she spoke to a board member. A Jonesboro police officer intervened and told the two women to calm down.

“They were fighting words and she was trying to provoke me,” Granger said.

Reached Wednesday, Lewis was unaware of the complaint, but accused Granger of violating school board policy by speaking about a specific school employee during the public comment session.

“The complaint is frivolous and without merit,” Lewis said in a statement. “I am confident that the State Bar will find that I acted in accordance with all applicable rules.”

Lewis denied that Granger filed an open records request.

“She did not file it is a member of the NAACP or as a board member of NAACP. By saying that, you make it look like she did and like she actually has an ounce of credibility,” Lewis said. ” Also, she never filed an open records request. I was merely doing her a favor and providing her with information and answering a question for her.”