The former president of the University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men is suing Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and the City of Rochester for defamation.
Joseph Munno resigned over a controversy involving last year’s valedictorian, who was denied permission to speak at the school’s graduation ceremony. Jaisaan Lovett was an intern at City Hall, and Mayor Warren allowed him to deliver his speech on the city’s YouTube channel.
Munno claims Mayor Warren made false and misleading statements about him after that incident which forced him to resign. In court papers, Munno says Lovett wasn’t barred from speaking at graduation. He alleges Lovett declined to speak.
Munno also says in the suit that Mayor Warren and the city “orchestrated an event” that portrayed him as a racist and falsely accused him of blocking Lovett from giving his speech. The suit calls it “a politically motivated hatchet job.”
City Hall has not yet responded to a request for comment.