Former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Mayor Kasim Reed and the city, saying he was terminated in 2015 because of his religion.

Attorneys with faith-based nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom are representing Cochran in the suit, filed in a U.S. District Court. They say Cochran's self-authored religious book, which contained controversial passages about homosexuality, cost him his job.

The mayor has repeatedly said Cochran's judgment — and not his faith — is why he was terminated after serving a 30-day suspension without pay.

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Metapros assemble parts on the IONIQ 5 electric car at the Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County, GA on March 26, 2025.  (Justin Taylor/The Current GA)

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Parts of northeast Georgia — extending south to Carroll County, through Bartow County and north into Fannin County — are under a Level 2 threat for possible scattered severe storms Sunday. By Monday, nearly all of Georgia will be under a Level 3 threat. (Ben Hendren for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Ben Hendren