Boston’s Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu DEFENDS ‘no whites’ holiday party she’s hosting for ‘electeds of color’ at taxpayer-funded city reception hall

Boston’s mayor held a separate holiday party for “elected people of color” Wednesday night, defending the gathering and insisting there will be many more of them when people of all races can come together.

Michelle Wu’s party was controversial from the start: invitations were sent by email to all 13 city council members, but they were revoked 15 minutes later from seven white council members.

On Wednesday afternoon, shortly before the party, Wu was asked if she thought it was divisive and she replied, “No.”

She said there were other opportunities for all people to celebrate together, but insisted the People of Color party was an appropriate way to celebrate her city’s “identity, culture and heritage.”

Boston Herald It is reported that seven white council members were not invited, while six non-white members were invited.

“This group has been around for many, many years,” said Wu, Boston’s first Asian-American mayor.

“We celebrate all kinds of connections, identities, cultures and heritages of the city.

“Just yesterday we held the official celebration of Hanukkah at City Hall.

“We have lights on the trees and we want to be a city that embraces individuality and has spaces and communities that we can help support.”

She said inviting white people was an “honest mistake”, refusing to acknowledge that dividing people by race could be offensive.

“I think we’ve all been in a situation where an email has been sent and the recipients have made a mistake,” she said.

“So really it was just an honest mistake.

“There are several ways to celebrate this occasion with everyone. There are several parties that the entire city council and all of our elected colleagues are invited to.”

The 38-year-old daughter of Taiwanese immigrants said she and her team “had individual conversations with everyone so people understand that it was actually just an honest mistake that occurred when entering the email field.”

She added, “And I’m looking forward to celebrating with everyone at the holiday parties we’ll be hosting around this party.”

“And I am committed to ensuring that we can once again become a city that lives our values ​​and creates space for all kinds of communities to come together.”

Some of those called back to the party because they were white shrugged it off, while others said it was a sad state of affairs.

“We stopped recognizing each other and started attacking each other,” said Frank Baker, who is white.

He said it was part of the “footprints” of the pandemic and an inability to “connect at heart.”

But those invited said that everything was fine.

“If there were Asian elected officials who wanted to start a party, that would be great,” said Ruthzi Lougin, who is Black and the first Haitian-American woman to serve on the council.

“If there were Muslims who wanted to have a party, that would be great because we’re still breaking down those barriers and we’re still trying to create a safe space and say, we welcome you into these sacred chambers too.”

Wu’s invitation to Wednesday’s party was mistakenly sent to all council members by her assistant Denise DosSantos.

DosSantos responded to the email 15 minutes later, apologizing for the invitation and clarifying that it was intended only for city council members of color.

“I wanted to apologize for my previous letter regarding the holiday party tomorrow,” wrote DosSantos, a Black woman.

“I accidentally sent this to everyone and I apologize if my letter could offend anyone or be perceived as such. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.”

There was no apology for what was actually planned to be a racially segregated party.

The move quickly divided the Boston City Council, with some saying they were not offended by the party, while others questioned Wu’s judgment.

Wu was elected mayor of Boston in November 2021, becoming the first woman and first Asian American mayor.

Michael McCormack, an attorney and former five-term Boston City Council member, said Wu was hosting an exclusive party that was atypical for her office and said former mayors Tom Menino and Ray Flynn would have invited the entire chamber.

“The problem is that Boston and race are unfortunately synonymous,” McCormack said.

“I just hope it was a mistake. This is not something anyone at City Hall should be proud of.”

But Wu spokesman Ricardo Patron said Wednesday that the mayor was approached to host the annual party by the group Chosen People of Color, and the host and location changes every year.

He said the party was just one of many held during the holiday season, and Wu was planning a larger holiday party next week for all members of her cabinet, City Council members and the entire Legislature.

Baker said he didn’t think the additional, exclusive party was a “good move” given the heightened tensions on the City Council, but said he wasn’t personally offended.

“I’m sorry that at this temperature we would encourage this division to continue,” he said, adding: “I’m not really that easily offended.

“To offend me, you’ll have to do more than just not invite me to the party.”

Others supported the move, with City Councilman Brian Worrell, who is black, saying the holiday party was an example of Boston government reflecting “all kinds of specific groups.”

“We’re creating space and space for all kinds of specific groups in the city and city government,” Worrell told the Boston Herald.

“This is no different, and elected officials of color have been around for over a decade.”

Worrell also reportedly said DosSantos has a good working relationship with the city council and was not offended by how the incident unfolded.

“As she said in her follow-up email, she did not mean any ill will,” he said.

Councilwoman Tanya Fernandez Anderson said in an email to DosSantos and Wu’s team that the email invitation “should not offend anyone and there should be no confusion.”

Feeling that there was “no need for an apology at all,” Fernandez Anderson said, “Just as there are groups that meet based on common interests or cultural traditions, it is natural for elected officials of color to gather for a holiday celebration.”

She continued: “Many groups celebrate and come together in different ways, and it’s not about excluding anyone.

“Instead, it’s about creating a space for like-minded people to connect and support each other.”