# @unapologeticallymemphis on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DFn9AL1TOPd
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/26420726-unapologeticallymemphis-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/fb77378e1f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-02-03T20:35:06.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Unapologetically Memphis (@unapologeticallymemphis) — https://gondola.cc/unapologeticallymemphis

## Caption

BREAKING: Former Landers Center Director Sues DeSoto County for Racial Discrimination

Former Landers Center Executive Director Todd Mastry has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was fired for booking Black artists at the Southaven venue. The lawsuit, filed on Jan. 31 in the Northern District of Mississippi, claims that multiple DeSoto County Board of Supervisors and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) members conspired to remove Mastry because he refused to follow their alleged racist directives.

Lawsuit Details:

📍 Issues reportedly began in 2014, when rapper Lil Wayne was booked for a 2016 performance.
📍 District 2 Supervisor Mark Gardner allegedly opposed it, saying he didn’t want “those people” (referring to Black artists and Black Memphians) in DeSoto County.
📍 Mastry pushed back, saying it would be a First Amendment violation to block artists based on race.
📍 The lawsuit claims that Gardner & other officials stacked the CVB Board with members willing to fire Mastry.

Retaliation & Firing

📅 Aug. 19, 2024 – Mastry claims he was berated in a meeting over booking Black artists.
📅 Sept. 3, 2024 – An unsuccessful attempt was made to fire him.
📅 Jan. 6, 2025 – Mastry was officially fired after new board members were appointed.

Mastry’s Impact on the Landers Center:

🏆 Helped bring the Memphis Hustle (NBA G League) to the arena.
🏆 Led the $85M Landers Center expansion project.
🏆 Oversaw the $11M BankPlus Amphitheater renovation.
🏆 Grew venue revenue from $2.6M (2008) → $11.5M (2022).
🏆 Helped expand the Mid-South Fair by 500%.

What’s Next?

Mastry is suing for violations of the Civil Rights Act, claiming a conspiracy to remove him for booking Black artists. No official comments have been made by the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors or CVB members yet.

👀 Thoughts on this lawsuit? Do you think Mastry was fired unfairly? 

Drop your thoughts in the comments! 

Mr. Mastry is being represented by attybillyryan donatilaw 

#MemphisNews #DeSotoCounty #LandersCenter #ToddMastry #CivilRights

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## Tags

memphisnews, landerscenter, desotocounty, civilrights, toddmastry

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