Former Landers Center director says he was fired for booking Black artists, files lawsuit
Todd Mastry, former executive director of Southaven’s Landers Center, speaks out after he was fired last month. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
Former Landers Center director Todd Mastry says he was fired after denying requests from members of the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors to stop booking Black artists at the venue, according to a lawsuit filed on Friday, Jan. 31.
In the lawsuit, Mastry accuses certain board supervisors and the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau of violating the Civil Rights Act. As a result, Mastry is seeking financial damages.
Mastry, fired last month during a special meeting of the CVB’s Board of Directors, names Supervisors Mark Gardner, Lee Caldwell and Robert Foster in his suit, as well as CVB member Michael Lee.
Mastry claims Gardner told him to stop booking “Black acts.”
Topics
Landers Center DeSoto County North Memphis Todd Mastry Mark Gardner Lee Caldwell Subscriber OnlyWill you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news?
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Rob Moore
Rob Moore covers North Mississippi for The Daily Memphian. He holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English from The University of Memphis.
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