U.S. housing complex in racial row against Indians

Monday, 19 July 2010, 22:37 IST
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Washington: The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against an apartment complex in Washington state for racial discrimination against Indians who were even told to "go back" to their country. The lawsuit against Summerhill Place Apartments, a 268-unit apartment complex in Renton, accuses them of violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating on the basis of race, colour, national origin and familial status in the rental of apartments. The suit filed Friday alleges, among other things, that the defendants steered Indian tenants away from one of the five buildings at Summerhill, treated tenants from India less favourably than other tenants, and discouraged African Americans, Hispanics and families with children from living at Summerhill. The owner and management of apartment complex instructed its staff not to show new or renovated apartments to people from India, Hispanics and African Americans, it says. The company and its staff engaged in discriminating against Indian tenants by not replacing their carpets or their broken appliances, while providing such services to other tenants, the law suit alleges. It also alleges that one or more Indian tenants were told that their children cannot play outside and that they should take them to park to play. They were also allegedly told to "go back to India" if they could not learn how to work their appliances and faced other derogatory comments about their national origin. The suit seeks monetary damages for those harmed by the defendants' actions, civil penalties and a court order barring future discrimination. "Few things are more fundamental to success and happiness than having a safe place to live. Fair and equal access to housing is a cornerstone of our society," said US attorney for the western district of Washington Jenny A. Durkan. "Apartment owners must ensure that their managers treat all tenants and potential tenants, in a fair and equitable manner without regard to race, national origin or whether they have children. "The U.S. attorney's Office oill actively pursue these cases with the goal of fairness and equity for all," Durkan said. "Equal access to housing in the United States is a fundamental right, and this nation will not tolerate discrimination in housing," said Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez.
Source: IANS
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