Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's office sent out an email inviting only “electeds of color” to a holiday party on Tuesday.
The racist email was sent to all Boston city councilors by Denise DosSantos, the mayor’s director of City Council relations.
"On behalf of Mayor Wu, I cordially invite you and a guest to the Electeds of Color Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 13 at 5:30pm at the Parkman House, 33 Beacon Street," the email said, going on to ask people to RSVP with any dietary restrictions they may have. .@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 a report from the Boston Herald, DosSantos sent an email about 15 minutes later apologizing for emailing everyone — instead of just those "electeds of color" that were invited.
“I wanted to apologize for my previous email regarding a Holiday Party for tomorrow,” DosSantos wrote. “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.”
The report noted that the body includes seven white councilors and six of color.
Outgoing City Councilor Frank Baker, who is white, told the Herald that the exclusion of some members was “unfortunate and divisive.”
“I find it unfortunate that with the temperature the way it is, that we would further that division,” Baker said.
However, Baker said that he was not personally offended by the racial snub.
“I don’t really get offended too easily,” Baker said. “To offend me, you’re going to have to do much more than not invite me to a party.”
Councilor Brian Worrell, who is Black, defended the segregated party.
“We make space and spaces for all kinds of specific groups in the city and city government,” Worrell said in a statement provided to the Herald. “This is no different, and the Elected Officials of Color has been around for more than a decade.”
Next week there is another party open to all Wu’s cabinet members, city councilors and the Boston state delegation at the State House — no matter their race.
