North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Kathy Fletcher, Director of Communications and Membership
kfletcher@nationalfairhousing.org
(202) 898-1661
Shanna Smith, President and CEO
(202) 898-1661
Welcome to the Neighborhood is a new television reality show that ABC intends to air on July 10, 2005. According to promotional materials, ABC’s website, and a viewing of the first two episodes, this show asks seven families of diverse racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds to compete against each other to secure the approval of three white neighbors to win a four bedroom house in Austin, Texas. The judges are three white families who say the neighborhood “supports the President, traditional Christian values and wants people like themselves” to live in neighborhood.
The premise of the show is that the white neighbors living in this “picture perfect” community will have the right to select their new neighbors. The families competing for their approval include African American, Hispanic, Asian American, a white gay couple with an African American child, and a family with non-traditional religious beliefs--all groups protected by federal or state fair housing laws. ABC is sponsoring a program that contradicts these families’ legal rights under federal and state Fair Housing Act.
According to Shanna Smith, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, “This show violates the spirit and intent of the federal Fair Housing Act. In America, residents of neighborhoods or homeowners associations do not get to choose their new neighbors based on their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability or the fact that they have children. In fourteen states and the District of Columbia, fair housing laws protect gays and lesbians from discriminatory housing practices.”
“I can’t imagine ABC producing a show where a restaurant owner denies service because of race, religion, color, national origin or sexual orientation. Would Donald Trump fire someone because of their race, color, national origin or religion? Of course not. None of the other TV reality programs cross the line into civil rights violations, but the residents ABC chose to be judges in “Welcome to the Neighborhood” make comments that clearly violate the federal Fair Housing Act and offend not only people of color and the gay community, but Christians and other religious groups as well.”
Since 1990, NFHA has worked to eradicate housing discrimination and promote integration throughout the United States. The NFHA 2005 Fair Housing Trends Report demonstrates that race and national origin, not economics, remain the most determinant factor in where people live. NFHA recently conducted real estate sales testing in 12 cities across the country to identify the nature and extent of housing discrimination.
NFHA filed a complaint with the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development in April against a Coldwell Banker franchise in metro Atlanta for steering African Americans away from white communities, making comments about Mexican neighbors, and discouraging white families from considering integrated neighborhoods. NFHA will file complaints in Detroit, Michigan on July 27, 2005 charging another large real estate company with racial steering. More complaints will be filed each month against sales and rental companies who have engaged in discriminatory housing practices.
Ms. Smith said, “NFHA is concerned that Welcome to the Neighborhood will give homeowners the idea that they can engage in discrimination and stereotyping of people protected by fair housing laws without any consequences. This program advances the idea that everyone living in a suburban neighborhood must be alike in their religious and political beliefs and racial and ethnic backgrounds. Christian organizations and white residents of suburban communities ought to be offended by the bigotry and ignorance displayed in this program.”
The National Fair Housing Alliance and civil rights groups nationwide urge ABC and its affiliates not to air this show. We encourage everyone to join the National Fair Housing Alliance and speak out against this program.
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition P.O. Box 1961 Fargo, North Dakota 58107-1961 Phone: (701) 239-9323 Fax: (701) 478-4452 Email: humanrights@ndhrc.org
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