Notice at apartment complex targets young blacks Management denies it posted letter that has angered community leaders

A notice posted at a southwest Houston apartment complex warning residents to report black youths on the property has outraged some Houston community leaders.

The leasing employee at Rock Springs Apartments, 9000 Town Park, said she had no knowledge of the notice, which reads: "We ask you to please contact the office immediately every time you see teenagers or adolescents of African-American race or any other suspicious people in the property."

When she was shown a photograph of the notice, taken moments earlier from a bulletin board in a laundry room at the complex, the employee said that "someone must have put it there."

In an email sent late Tuesday, a person identified as the property manager of the apartments agreed.

"We are always careful what kind of notices we put out," the email sent by K.K. Singh states. "Our notices are always dated and signed. You should be assured that this notice was never posted by our office. It appears someone has successfully fabricated it and been able to attract the attention of the media and take away their precious time from other momentous issues."

Attempts to reach Singh were not successful.

Free Press Houston was the first to report on the warning. An employee reportedly told the website that managers published the notice, but would not say why.

In English and Spanish

DeLoyd Parker, of S.H.A.P.E. Community Center, said the notice did not surprise him.

"It's typical of racist views constantly perpetuated by people who just don't want people of color to be a part of their experience," Parker said.

He called on the city of Houston Housing Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate.

The notice was posted in English and Spanish. Many residents at the apartment complex are Hispanic.

The notice shows that racial profiling is alive and well in Houston, said community activist Deric C. Muhammad, of the Houston Ministry of Justice.

"I was at first a little leery about whether the notice was authentic because it looked like it was Photoshopped (digitally altered)," Muhammad said.

"But finding out this notice was actually released, it's indicative of a mindset that causes black teens to be racially profiled, not only by apartment complexes, but by convenience store owners and others.

"We believe that African-American families, particularly those who have teenagers that live in that complex, need to get the hell out of there as soon as possible, and the apartment complex should be willing to let them out of their lease," Muhammad said.

'It sends a message'

Community activist Shelby Stewart called the situation "tragic."

"It's just depressing whenever I see racism rear its ugly head," said Stewart, chairman of the Coalition to Defend Civil Rights and Human Dignity. "It's tragic because crimes are committed by blacks, whites, Hispanics and Asians, but they have singled out a race of people.

"It sends a message to the Latin-American community that any time they see an African-American, it'll be trouble - 'somebody will steal something from you, stalk you or carjack you,' and that's not the case," Stewart said. "We don't need that type of propaganda."