Former AP reporter Marlene Louise Johnson, who sued wire for discrimination, dies at age 89

Obit Marlene Johnson - (Morenike Evans via AP)

Former Associated Press reporter Marlene Louise Johnson, whose lawsuit against the wire service for race and gender discrimination led to affirmative action plans to spur hiring of female, Black and Hispanic journalists, has died at 89.

Johnson died May 9 in an Inglewood, California, elder care facility. She had been suffering from dementia, according to her daughter, Morenike Joela Evans.