BALTIMORE (WBFF) — After filing an equal employment opportunity complaint, the former vice president of a Baltimore-area development nonprofit filed a federal race discrimination lawsuit against Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott and others Monday.
Andrew Freeman worked for the East Baltimore Development, Inc. for years and in 2024, was promoted to a vice president role. However, the change in leadership wasn’t well received by other elected officials in Baltimore – specifically Mayor Brandon Scott, Freeman and his attorney Tonya Bana said. Shortly after the promotion, Freeman was fired.
“I’ve lived my entire life, you know, looking at people equally and I was raised that way and I’ve live my life that way,” Freeman said.
Freeman said he’s worked with several city leaders over the years and has never had issues. He “routinely received accolades and expressions of gratitude” from leadership within EBDI, according to the federal complaint reviewed by FOX45 News.
“Mr. Freeman’s vast knowledge and invaluable skillset in real estate development and management helped EBDI transition from being on the verge of bankruptcy to having significant working capital by leveraging owned land for self-development or joint ventures with others,” the complaint stated.
During an exclusive interview with FOX45 News, Freeman said the organization went through a restructuring and when he was promoted to Vice President of Real Estate Development, Karen Major Johnson was let go. At the time, Johnson served as the chief real estate officer, but Freeman said he was told Johnson’s role was eliminated “because the organization did not need a Chief Real Estate Officer and a Senior Director of Real Estate Development.”
“When I was let go, when I was on that particular day in June, two years ago, I was told that I didn’t fit in,” Freeman said.
Freeman is represented by Tonya Bana, an employment attorney in the Baltimore area. In the complaint, Bana said Freeman was told by his direct supervisor – CEO Cheryl Washington – that the decision to terminate his employment “was not made by her and that she did not agree with it.”
“She also made it clear that Mr. Freeman was terminated at the direction of Mr. [Calvin] Young,” the complaint alleges as well.
Calvin Young was named EBDI’s board chair in March 2024, a decision that came directly from Mayor Scott. Young served as Scott’s campaign treasurer. In addition to Mayor Scott, the lawsuit names Young, and the EBDI as defendants.
Young claimed he told Washington to fire Freeman “because he ‘had a change of heart’ about terminating Ms. Johnson and because Mr. Freeman ‘didn’t fit in’ or ‘wasn’t a good fit’,” the lawsuit alleges.
In reality, when Mayor Scott found out that Ms. Johnson was discharged while Mr. Freeman was retained, the Mayor was ‘upset,’ he ‘had an issue with it,’ and he said that EBDI was ‘not focusing on core values’, according to the lawsuit.
“Andy was discharged and it doesn’t make sense and the explanations that we’re given don’t add up,” Bana said to FOX45 News Monday. “And based on our due diligence and the investigation that we’ve done and the evidence that we have, all signs really point to race being the primary factor.”
Attorney Tonya Bana and her client, Andy Freeman.png
Bana described the explanation Freeman received for his termination as “textbook evidence of subjectivity.” She also pointed to the text messages from Washington, explaining the decision to fire Freeman wasn’t coming from her, “raises a strong and compelling inference that there was some unlawful motive for this.”
“What was the reason for Andy’s firing? Well, I mean, ultimately that is a determination that will be made by a jury, but certainly the evidence and the factual timeline that we’ve laid out in the complaint demonstrates that Andy had a very successful career at EBDI,” Bana said. “Promoted multiple times accolades positive reinforcement and literally, it’s like he gets promoted on Monday and on Friday he’s being he’s not only not promoted, but he’s also been fired. It doesn’t make any sense.”
As the legal proceedings unfold, Bana said she anticipates that City Hall will argue the lawsuit targets diversity, equity, and inclusion, DEI, practices. However, she maintains that using race as a factor in employment decisions is unlawful.
It’s illegal to make decisions as a government entity based on race,” Bana said.
FOX45 News reached out to Mayor Scott’s office for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Freeman is seeking damages, according to the lawsuit, but also, he said he wants accountability for what happened to him.
“Nobody should be treated as unfairly as I have been and I think that we need to make an example of what it should be, not something like this,” he said. “Because if you’re doing the job and you’re doing it well, nothing else should come into play.”
Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.
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