The Democratic mayor of Boston accidentally sent an invite to her secret “No Whites Allowed” holiday party to the entire Boston city council — but refuses to apologize.
The controversy began when Wu’s director of City Council relations, Denise DosSantos, accidentally sent an invitation to the racially segregated event to the entire council — including the white members. Within fifteen minutes, DosSantos dis-invited the council members that were white.
“I did send that to everyone by accident, and I apologize if my email may have offended or came across as so. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused,” she wrote.
Mayor Michelle Wu defended her segregated holiday party on Wednesday, where seven of the 13 city councilmembers were excluded and only “Electeds of Color” were invited.
But Wu could face legal repercussions.
The party was hosted at the Parkman House, a city-owned building.
The Boston Herald reported that hosting the racially segregated party may have been a violation of Massachusetts Public Accommodations law, which prohibits discrimination based on race or ethnicity in public places like bars, stadiums, hotels, or public buildings like the Parkman House.
One councilmember called the existence of a racially segregated party “divisive” and “unfortunate.”
“I find it unfortunate that with the temperature the way it is, that we would further that division,” Councilman Frank Baker, who recently declined to run for reelection, said. “But what are you going to do about it, I’m on my way out.”
Wu, who took office in November 2021, defended hosting a racially segregated party on Wednesday. She said she has been going to secret “Electeds of Color” gatherings for “more than a decade.”
“I’ve been a part of a group that gathers, representing elected officials of color across all different levels of government in Massachusetts,” Wu said. “A group that has been in place for more than a decade, and the opportunity to create a space for people to celebrate and rotate who hosts.”
.@MayorWu, the Mayor of Boston invited only “electeds of color” to a Holiday Party. The email was mistakenly sent to all city councilmembers, including the white ones. One white councilmember called it “divisive.”
The party is still scheduled to take place and only black… pic.twitter.com/1CJL8aKsQY
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 13, 2023