"Caucasians Only" Land Advertised in Mass. Town

A real estate ad in the New Bedford Standard-Times in New Bedford, Mass., shocked a reader when she saw that the ad apparently endorsed racial discrimination.

Buried in the ad for a piece of property in Fairhaven, Mass., was the passage, "The said land shall not be sold, leased or rented to any person other than of the Caucasian race or to any entity of which any person other than that of said race shall be a member, stockholder, officer or director."

Mandi Costa read it and thought, "No way, this cannot be true," she told CBS station WBZ-TV in Boston.

The ad's language was familiar to Costa. "Obviously [the language] is in somebody's will or is an oversight on somebody's part. But this is wrong, this is unfair. I felt like I was back in the 60s," she said.

Records at Fairhaven's town hall show a deed from 1946 when the original property was divided. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination calls it "unlawful and unenforceable under Massachusetts statute."

The law firm in Newton, Mass., that placed the ad said in a statement, "This notice involves a restriction that a previous owner placed on the property. We do not condone the language and do not believe it would be enforceable."

To be sure, Costa has filed a discrimination lawsuit. "Discrimination is alive and well and this is a primary example of something that says we're not equal yet. This is why I'm trying to bring light to everyone," she said. "This is old language. I completely understand that. But this is a new time."

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination is checking to see if any laws were broken when the ad was published. The New Bedford Standard-Times called the ad's placement in the paper a "gross oversight." Harmon Law said it removed the racist language from any future legal notices.

Local Video from WBZ in Boston

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[rockcutr]

I wonder about the editor of this paper that wrote such a thing in black and white.
I wonder why all people are so all fired ready to sue over a thing that offends them in the slightest way. As if they were so dog gone special. Until the yelling about any issue stops, there shall continue to be said opressive offence tossed in their face. This is the law of nature. A thing is not forgiven until it is totally forgotten. Yet, those who continue to say I shall never forget are actually saying "I shall never forgive"
Refusing to learn
Refusing to grow
equals death.

[brianbwb2011]

I wonder why "white" people try to posit, against all statistical and empirical evidence, that racism is somehow dead. The election of a "black" president was only one battle victory, the war against American apartheid however, is far from over.

I shall never forget, as that brings the possibility of repeat.

I shall never forgive, as long as racism continues.

I shall never stop yelling about it, just because some "white" people are tired of hearing about their own mental disorder.

As far as the "death threat", apply it to yourself and your own.

[Husker62]

I agree, she should sue...the original owner. Dumb B has no common sense so let her go dig up the owner who posted the deed the first time and sue them. How stupid can some people be? I'm amazed by the stupidity of people every day. Maybe one day it won't suprise me as it does but then some dumb A will find a new way to suprise me, I'm sure.

[obfusc8tr]

What a non-story. Those kinds of deed restrictions are invalid per se, and have been for decades. They must have had a series of lazy or sloppy lawyers over the years since the language wasn't redacted before now.

[Rodeo_Joe]

This outranks ANY Palin story.

[2badd2]

Oh no it doesn't rodeo...I saw an article in which someone called polin stupid..

[dogsoul]

Lawsuit? Really? Puh-LEASE... this was leftover buried language from some racist back in the 40's long since dead - and this lady wants to file a lawsuit to illustrate how this kind of racism is alive & well??? If ANYthing, it shows the absolute opposite... I dunno, perhaps our black President should weigh in on the matter... I swear, if you would spend less time whining about how unfair the world is to you & do something for yourselves once in a while... you'd be a LOT better off for it... Trust me, this lawsuit does nothing but deepen racial tensions - people are sick of this kind of cr*p.

[Rhoadsa]

Nope, makes it TWICE AS GOOD......

[democracy3]

You're an idiot.

[hambonehd]

And this is news..?

Get the .... over it..!

[johndevinejr]

Assigning the acts of one individual to an entire race is the definition of racism. Printing your post twice doesn't make it twice as bad.

[LetTheSouthSecede]

since when did "illegal immigrants" become a "race"?? oh, my bad - it must have happened when Arizona decided to stand up and pass a law that the worthless federal government fails time and time again to enforce.

I agree with Rhoadsa - this is a frivolous lawsuit started by some greedy, selfish slob who is probably tired of making the trip to get their welfare checks.