HUD Files First Charge Under Racial Law

Acting for the first time under new authority given it by last year’s fair housing law, the Department of Housing and Urban Development filed a racial discrimination charge Thursday against a Little Rock, Ark., real estate agent and homeowner.

In the past, HUD generally could not take parties to court over charges of racial discrimination in the selling or renting of a home.

“This is a landmark in civil rights enforcement,” HUD Secretary Jack Kemp said, because the alleged victim of the discrimination--Melvin White--”is the first American to have his government stand up for him in court under the new fair housing law.”

White, in a complaint filed with HUD, charged that he was denied the opportunity to rent a house in Little Rock because he is black.