Craigslist sued over fair housing laws
February 2006
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, has filed a lawsuit against craigslist for publishing discriminatory housing ads.
It is alleged that federal fair housing laws were violated by publishing housing ads which excluded prospective tenants on the basis of race, gender, family status, marital status, national origin, and religion. The Committee also believes that From July 2005 through the present, craigslist published over 200 discriminatory ads from metropolitan Chicago.
"Discriminatory housing advertisements contaminate the housing market, stigmatize the people who are discouraged or excluded from housing, and mislead people into thinking that it is normal and acceptable to select tenants on the basis of race, gender, religion or family status" said Laurie Wardell of the Committee.
Elyssa Winslow explained that "Discriminatory housing advertisements reduce the housing available to persons of color and to persons in other protected groups. Where we live determines our job opportunities, our neighbors and friends and communities, our physical safety and the quality of our kids’ education. Housing discrimination injures us all".
Jim Buckmaster, CEO of craigslist, has responded to the allegations saying that "craigslist is not a publisher, but rather a community moderated commons largely run by it users". Imposing the editorial restrictions implied by the suit would, he claims, be "potentially illegal".
He goes on to say that on the basis of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, he be lives the suit is likely to be dismissed.
Technorati tags: lawsuit | legal | law | advertising | housing
