Massachusetts AG, Alleged Violators Resolve Charges Of Race/Ethnicity Based Discrimination In Separate Incidents Affecting Housing Rights

From the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General:

• Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a Final Consent Judgment yesterday against two Holyoke brothers, Jesse and Roman Jedrzejczyk, who are accused of harassing, threatening and intimidating their neighbors, a single mother and her two six year-old daughters. The adult victim is a political asylee to the United States who, in 2001, fled political persecution in Haiti out of fear for her life. The judgment [...] includes a civil rights injunction prohibiting the Jedrzejczyks from threatening, intimidating or coercing the victims, or anyone else in the Commonwealth, because of their actual or perceived race or ethnicity. The order also prohibits the Jedrzejczyks from knowingly coming within 10 feet of the victims. A violation of the order is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a House of Correction, or if bodily injury results from such a violation, a $10,000 fine and up to ten years in State Prison.(1)

For the AG's press release, see Coakley Obtains Final Consent Judgment Against Holyoke Brothers for Harassment and Intimidation of Neighbors.

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In a separate case from the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General:

• Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached a settlement with a Dorchester property owner resolving allegations that he made racially discriminatory statements to an African American woman seeking to rent an apartment he had advertised to the public. The Assurance of Discontinuance, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, against Robert Gallo, Sr., resolves allegations that the defendant violated state and federal anti-discrimination laws and requires him to pay $25,000 to the victim.(2)

For the AG's press release, see Coakley’s Office Reaches $25,000 Settlement with Dorchester Property Owner for Allegedly Making Racially Discriminatory Statements.

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(1) The AG's press release states that, according to the complaint, filed July 8, 2009, the Jedrzejczyks repeatedly and regularly harassed the victims using racial slurs and threats over the course of the past three years. The defendants’ actions caused the victim to become concerned for her personal safety after threats were made to break her windshield. In addition, a “For Sale” sign was placed in front of her house. The intimidation culminated last spring when the victim responded to racial slurs being directed at her by imploring Jesse Jedrzejczyk to leave her alone. In response, Jedrzecjcyk threatened, “I will never leave you alone until you move. If you don’t move, I’ll move you!” The Commonwealth’s lawsuit alleged the Jedrzejczyks’ bias-motivated harassment has seriously interfered with the victims’ ability to live and feel safe at home.

(2) The AG's press release states that, according to the prospective tenant’s complaint, which was filed with the Boston Fair Housing Commission and referred to the Attorney General’s Office, Gallo allegedly told the woman when she attempted to rent his apartment that he was told by neighbors to make sure he rented to the right people and that it was an influential area where only certain people lived. The complaint further alleged that Gallo told the woman that she would have no friends in the area and that he was just looking out for her safety. Testers from the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston subsequently tested the property and were allegedly subjected to discriminatory statements, including the defendant telling the white tester:

• "the people around here are all white"
• "they don't want someone who is yellow or dark-skinned"
• "I could not in good conscience have someone in here who was not white"
• "Just don't get too much of a tan...you could get too dark and that would not work"
• "I like you and your manners and your shade, so you are my first choice"