Beantown e-bungle exposed an “unfortunate and divisive” climate in City Hall after an e-vite for “Electeds of Color Holiday Party” was sent to all councilmembers — including white members.
“Democrats never change, do they?”
Wednesday at the Parkman House in Boston, Massachusetts, “Honorable Members” of the City Council were invited to attend an intimate soiree that took into account personal pronouns, potential dietary restrictions and a hearty helping of holiday racial discrimination. This is according to an email distributed on behalf of Mayor Michelle Wu (D) sent “to everyone by accident.”
After the Boston Herald had reported on the discriminatory invite sent out by the director of City Council Relations, Denise DosSantos, with the subject heading “Elected of Color Holiday Party Tomorrow,” Libs of TikTok shared a screenshot of the offending correspondence.
Her caption read, “…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 councilmembers are invited.”
.@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
According to the Herald, 15 minutes after the email had been sent, a follow-up from DosSantos was hastily distributed containing a non-apology for the blatant racism spotlighted by the secular seasonal shindig.
“I wanted to apologize for my previous email regarding a Holiday Party for tomorrow,” the director wrote. “I did send that to everyone by accident, and I apologize if my email may have offended or come across as so. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.”
Unclear on the reasoning for the segregated party, outgoing City Councilor Frank Baker (D) remarked to the newspaper, “I don’t really get offended too easily. To offend me, you’re going to have to do much more than not invite me to a party,” though he did call the planned gathering “unfortunate and divisive.”
“I find it unfortunate that with the temperature the way it is, that we would further that division,” he added.
Meanwhile, other members, among those included in the festivities, endorsed the melanated merriment, discounting suggestions of ill will.
Councilor Brian Worrell (D) said to the Herald, “We make space and spaces for all kinds of specific groups in the city and city government. This is no different, and the Elected Official of Color has been around for more than a decade.”
Likewise, Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson (D), noted to be the first practicing Muslim elected to her position, responded to DosSantos’ apology missive, “Your email should not offend anyone and there is absolutely no confusion. Just like there are groups that meet based on shared interests or cultural backgrounds, it’s completely natural for elected officials of color to gather for a holiday celebration.”
“Many groups celebrate and come together in various ways, and it’s not about excluding anyone. Instead, it’s about creating spaces for like-minded individuals to connect and support each other,” she added while commending the holiday celebration.
Addressing concerns over the party, Wu spokesman Ricardo Patrón told the Herald it was only one of several events being held throughout the month and the mayor had been asked to host the annual Electeds of Color group’s party. He also told the newspaper that a party open to all cabinet members, councilors and the Boston state delegation was slated for the following week at the State House.
Social media was hardly willing to overlook the implications as some suggested if the same had been done by a private company “they’d be sued six ways to Sunday.”
Good Christ @MayorWu. If a company put out an invite to employees like that they’d be sued six ways to Sunday. Why is this ok in the public sector??
— Ditch Mitch For America (@ditchmitch4us) December 13, 2023
Imagine the Mayor of a major American city hosting an event where colleagues are excluded solely because of their race. The antebellum south? Nope. Michelle Wu’s Boston in 2023.
— Edward Coyle (@SirEdwardCoyle) December 13, 2023
How much racism against White People must take place before its condemned and heads roll?
— Fed Up Kentuckian (@FedUpKentuckian) December 13, 2023
You get the government you deserve and you deserve to get it good and hard.
— MAGA Jones (@MAGAJones4) December 13, 2023
This is really outrageous — it’s discriminatory and morally offensive.
Isn’t this illegal?
Imagine if a politician did a whites-only Holiday Party.
Democrat politicians like Wu are the people responsible for race tensions in America.
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) December 13, 2023
Democrats never change, do they? pic.twitter.com/12ODtrehab
— Joseph Jones (@JoeGayHistorian) December 13, 2023
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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