BAY CITY, MI -- A former teacher at a Mount Pleasant charter school has filed a federal lawsuit against the institution, alleging her right to free speech was violated and that she was a victim of racial discrimination.

Through attorney Julie A. Gafkay, Mika Yamamoto on Jan. 25 filed her suit against Renaissance Public School Academy and Principal Lisa Bergman at the federal courthouse in downtown Bay City. The school is located at 2792 S. Isabella Road in Mount Pleasant and provides preschool through eighth-grade education.

Yamamoto, an Asian American, was employed by Renaissance in August 2016 as a fifth-grade teacher. The suit alleges that on Nov. 9 -- the day after Election Day -- Yamamoto gave a speech to about 100 middle school students regarding domestic violence and discrimination against women.

Yamamoto "spoke as an author and not in her capacity as a teacher," the suit states.

On Nov. 30, Bergman told Yamamoto to leave the school and come back in two days "for a meeting to discuss 'diversity and tolerance' issues with her and the curriculum director," the suit states. "Defendant Bergman spoke to Plaintiff before and indicated she couldn't keep Plaintiff 'safe' after Plaintiff spoke out on matters of public concern."

The suit goes on to state Bergman told Yamamoto the community wasn't ready for her.

On Dec. 2, the school's Human Resources department contacted Yamamoto and told her there would be a meeting the following week, though she still did not know why she had been suspended. The meeting did not take place and on Dec. 7, Renaissance terminated Yamamoto's employment.

Yamamoto contends she was fired as an act of retaliation because of her speech, thus violating her First Amendment rights.

The school has "maintained a policy and practice of refusing to employ or retain individuals of color," the suit continues. "Defendants' actions in discharging Plaintiff from her employment because of or on the basis of her race or color abridges her right to equal protection of the laws in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."

Yamamoto would not comment when contacted Feb. 17, but referred to an an interview conducted by Mark Maynard and published on his website. Yamamoto said she was the only teacher of color at Renaissance. Regarding the Nov. 9 speech, Yamamoto said she had been asked by other teachers to speak to students on how to write horror. The event had been scheduled prior to Election Day, she said.

"I said that, on that particular day, I felt less safe than ever, because our country had just elected a president who had openly spoken out against women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and other people he felt were different than him," Yamamoto told Maynard. "I told the students that I saw this as a call to arms to share our stories honestly in order to make safe space. In the speech, I said, 'I will share with you my darkness so you feel safe to share your darkness with me, such that we can vanquish the darkness together.'"

Yamamoto went on to tell Maynard her speech had the desired effect of empowering students to advocate for themselves and others, as several students approached her about concerns in their lives. She passed the information on to the principal, she said.

Later that month, Principal Bergman and Renaissance's curriculum coordinator met with Yamamoto. Bergman told Yamamoto the community was not ready for her voice and she would be suited in a place like Chicago or New York, Yamamoto told Maynard.

Yamamoto maintained she was not given a reason for her suspension and eventual termination.

In her suit, Yamamoto is seeking back pay with interest, awards of compensatory and punitive damages, and attorney fees.

The Times was unable to reach Bergman for comment, but she did tell The Morning Sun the school is proud of its policies and does not discriminate under any circumstances.

Court records do not list an attorney for Renaissance or Bergman. However, the defendants have been served with the suit, with Bergman having until Feb. 21 to file a response and the school having until Feb. 24 to do so.