Video: Shannon Bar Owner Gets Her Day In Court

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Oxford, MS (WCBI) — A Memphis businesswoman trying to open a bar in Shannon will get her day in court.

Last Fall P.J. Newton of Memphis filed a Federal lawsuit against the Mayor and several members of the Board of Aldermen in Shannon after they voted to deny her a  business license for her bar, O’Hara’s.

Newton claims that the Mayor and Board conspired against her, because the bar would cater primarily to the gay community, and that the officials had no legitimate reason for denying her license.

The city has denied those allegations, but have offered no explanation for their action.

Newton previously ran a bar by the same name in Shannon from 1994 to 1998. It also catered to the LGBT community. After Newton sold the bar, the new owners changed the name to “Rumors”, but continued to operate as a gay bar until 2010.

The case will go to trial in Federal Court in Oxford January 26th 2015.