WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – The City of Wilmington’s former Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) director filed a federal lawsuit Thursday, claiming she was fired because of her race and in retaliation for reporting discrimination.
According to the lawsuit, Kimberly Carson, who is Black, was terminated on May 8, 2025, after about a year on the job. The lawsuit was filed Feb. 26 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Carson alleges city officials launched a biased internal investigation against her after she raised concerns about the treatment of Black employees, including the city’s first Black police chief, Donny Williams, and reported that her direct supervisor, Assistant City Manager Mary Vigue, appeared impaired during work hours…