The Greenwood Tourism Commission is denying allegations made in a racial discrimination lawsuit, according to a response filed in federal court Thursday.
The suit was filed by Ashley Brock Farmer, an employee of the Greenwood Convention and Visitors Bureau, against the bureau and the city of Greenwood.
Her lawsuit, which is one side of a legal argument, alleges that she was passed over during the hiring process for the bureau’s executive director because she is white.
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In her initial complaint filed last month, Farmer states she has been an employee of the bureau for more than four years and was the “natural candidate” for executive director. She says she functioned as interim director without being given that title for four months following the departure of the previous executive director, Danielle Morgan.
She has alleged that the Black members of the commission, who held a majority, wanted only a Black person as executive director and that Patrick Ervin, who began working as executive director in November, was hired purely for racial reasons.
She also alleges her pay was reduced by $10,000 in an effort to entice her to quit.
Farmer, who is represented by attorney Jim Waide of Tupelo, is asking for damages and asking to be named executive director by order of the court.
In the commission’s response, it denies the allegation that the Black members of the board wanted only a Black executive director, says the decision not to hire Farmer was not based on race and requests proof of both allegations.
The response also says Farmer did not actually serve as interim director of the bureau after Morgan left but merely “performed additional duties following the departure of the previous director until a new executive director was hired.” Finally, the commission denies the allegation that Farmer’s pay was cut in an effort to make her resign.
The commission has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning Farmer cannot refile the claim again in court.
The Meridian law firm Glover, Young, Hammock, Walton and Simmons is representing the commission, and Jackson law firm Phelps Dunbar LLP is representing the city of Greenwood.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwa-rds@gwcommonwealth.com.
