New York, NY, June 25, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, a case that sought to determine whether or not the Fair Housing Act allows a cause of action when the impact of a neutral policy is discriminatory.
In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that the Act protects victims of discrimination, even where they cannot prove an intent to discriminate.
“The Fair Housing Act is an essential tool to eradicate housing discrimination and promote more inclusive neighborhoods,” said Christopher Wolf, ADL Civil Rights Chair. “This decision recognizes the realities of discrimination. Intentional or not, discrimination hurts people and damages the fabric of our society.”
“Segregation continues to create devastating social harms while integration brings benefits both to individuals and to society as a whole,” added Deborah M. Lauter, ADL Civil Rights Director. “Our amicus brief in this case continues our longstanding tradition of advocacy in the courts to ‘secure justice and fair treatment to all.’”
ADL’s very first amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court was in the landmark 1948 case Shelley v Kraemer, which addressed this same issue of discrimination in housing.
ADL joined with a diverse group of more than 25 civil rights organizations in a coalition brief in this case.