Congressman Al Green Sends Letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as the Department of Justice Concerning an Invidious Message Posted on the Property of an Apartment Complex

On November 21, 2012, Congressman Al Green sent a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as to the Department of Justice (DOJ) calling to their attention an invidious message, which referenced young African Americans, posted on the property of an apartment complex, located in the Ninth Congressional District. Congressman Al Green asked the agencies to take whatever action they deemed appropriate.

 “Regardless as to whether this was a prank or serious effort to circumvent constitutional rights, it is something that should not go unnoticed. Just as we took affirmative action against the hanging of nooses to intimidate, we must take affirmative action to prevent invidious stereotyping and/or odious profiling,” Congressman Al Green said. “Edmund Burke was right when he reminded us that, ‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to do nothing. For me doing nothing is not an option.’”