Support Fairness Over Politics

The Missouri State Conference of the NAACP is managing this Go Fund Me on my behalf, with proceeds being directed to Lewis Rice Attorneys at Law in St. Louis. This is about protecting historic progress in a city where I serve as the first woman and first African American in this role in 80 years. I am reluctant to ask for donations, knowing these are hard times for most.

As a civil servant, I lack the financial resources to combat this politically motivated attack. The Mayors and her administration has attempted to force my resignation. I chose not to resign. To do so would be to accept a false narrative and potentially set a dangerous precedent for future public servants who might face similar politically motivated challenges. My role is meant to be independent precisely to prevent political interference in personnel decisions that affect thousands of city employees. Therefore, I was publicly humiliated and ridiculed.

You may wonder, with all the devastation in the world, why donate to this cause? I reach out to you because this type of devastation happens every day to common people like myself. Too often, dedicated workers must accept unjust treatment simply because they lack the resources to fight back. This case exemplifies how political power can be misused to silence those who stand up for the independence of civil service and the protection of city workers from political interference.

What began as a straightforward matter has been twisted into a sensationalized narrative that grossly mischaracterizes both my actions and intentions. To be absolutely clear: the allegation that I drove 130 miles to investigate suspected infidelity is false. During the trip in question, my Chief of Staff voluntarily accompanied me after I asked if he could ride with me so we could work, and we conducted legitimate business throughout our travel time. I ask you - what woman, if she were traveling to catch her spouse cheating, would spend the entire two-hour trip working? The absurdity of this allegation only underscores the manufactured nature of the charges against me. This fight extends beyond my personal circumstances—it represents a stand against the misuse of political power to target public servants who challenge the status quo.

With sincere appreciation for your support,

Sonya Jenkins-Gray