Massachusetts' Democratic AG dismisses complaints over Boston mayor's no-whites party; won't investigate

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell (D) has repeatedly claimed that she regards racism and discrimination as unacceptable. It appears, however, there are some instances in which the UCLA graduate is willing to make an exception.

Despite receiving at least four complaints about Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's Dec. 13 race-segregated Christmas party, Campbell's office has indicated everything is hunky dory.

What's the background?

Denise DosSantos, director of city council relations in the mayor's administration, accidentally sent an email last month to all members of the Boston City Council, inviting them to Wu's "Electeds of Color Holiday Party ... at the Parkman House."

DosSantos followed up roughly 15 minutes later to apologize for accidentally sending the invitation to the seven white American citizens on the council.

"I did send that to everyone by accident, and I apologize if my email may have offended or came across as so," wrote DosSantos. "Sorry for any confusion this may have caused."

Outgoing City Councilor Frank Baker — among those councilors whose complexion disqualified him from the intended invite list — told the Boston Herald the decision was "unfortunate and divisive."

Councilor Brian Worrell, among the party's attendees, defended the segregated event, noting, "Elected Officials of Color has been around for more than a decade."

Despite facing criticism over an ostensible return to their party's former ways, the Democrats' went forward with their holiday bash at the Parkman House — with Wu in attendance.

Wu said, "There are many events that are private events for all sorts of groups, so we’ve clarified that and look forward to seeing everyone at one of the dozens of opportunities to celebrate the holidays," reported the Associated Press.

Preferential application of the law

The Boston Herald intimated that the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, which is supposed to be enforced by Campbell, might apply to the venue where the race-segregated party was held. After all, the Francis Parkman House is a historic, publicly-owned mansion on Beacon Hill, listed as the mayor's official reception hall.

The accommodation law prohibits "among other things, making any distinction, discrimination, or restriction in admission to or treatment in a place of public accommodation based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, deafness, blindness, or any physical or mental disability, or ancestry."

When pressed by the Herald about whether the no-whites party was in violation of the law, Campbell's office answered in the negative "since it was not open to the public."

Rev. Eugene Rivers III, a black Dorchester pastor, did not find the response from Campbell's office satisfactory, telling the Herald the party was "clumsy politics, generational politics."

"Number one. Had any white politicians said they were having some St. Patty's Day event and it was only for the Irish, that would have been called racist by every politician of color in the city council and possibly in the state," said Rivers.

"You can't have two sets of moral political books," continued Rivers. "It's simply hypocritical. And there's just no reason for that."

The pastor stressed that if the Democratic mayor is keen on developing "street cred," it shouldn't come at the "expense of white people."

Although four complaints were filed with the Massachusetts AGO against Wu — three from outside of the state — a spokesman for Campbell said her office "has no open investigation into this event," reported Fox News Digital.

Campbell's reluctance to address Wu's anti-white discrimination has highlighted a disconnect between her past rhetoric and its real-world application.

In 2017, Campbell wrote, "Hateful, racist rhetoric has no place in Boston, a City that proudly celebrates its diversity and has pledged to protect its residents regardless of their race, ethnicity, status, sex, or orientation."

In 2021, she stressed that "[r]acism has no place in our communities or in our government."

In 2022, she claimed, "As Attorney General ... I will not tolerate racism in any form throughout the Commonwealth."

Campbell also pledged not to "tolerate hate or discrimination of any kind in Massachusetts."

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