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Washington, D.C, has historically been known as “chocolate city” but over the last decade or so this has not been the case. According to DCist, a civil rights lawyer, Aristotle Theresa has filed a lawsuit on behalf of three native Washingtonians and CARE, a community group with over 20 members.

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The lawsuit claims the city has discriminatory housing and urban-renewal policies that favor white millennial renters over long-term black residents. The suit goes on to mention the city’s newest residential building project that caters to “creative” workers who tend to work in fields such as technology, journalism, arts, and science. Theresa believes the city’s success has in attracting these type of renters has come at a cost of low-middle class Black families who can no longer afford to live in D.C.

“The city is intentionally trying to lighten black neighborhoods, and the way they have primarily been doing it is through construction of high density, luxury buildings, that primarily only offer studios and one bedrooms,” the lawsuit reads.

The suit is seeking over $1 billion in damages. The policies put into place by former Mayor Adrian Fenty’s administration were used to “economically integrate” the neighborhoods, but some residents do not see it that way. Theresa claims that these policies have done nothing but hurt the community and cause widespread gentrification. Theresa also notes these policies have been directly discriminatory on the basis of age and source of income, as well as having a disparate impact on the city’s Black community.

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The specific complaints being made in the lawsuit are targeted at Fenty’s “Creative Action Agenda”, and Vincent Gray’s, “Creative Economy Strategy.” It is obvious from the titles of these new policies, that they are geared towards bringing in new and more “creative” people to the city.

The man filing the suit, Aristotle Theresa, is a resident of Anacostia. He has worked with many residents of the city in the past by helping them fight for the halt of certain developments of the city that would further gentrify it. Along with the $1 billion in damages, Theresa is also looking to gain a class certification for the lawsuit. There has been no comment made by the city thus far about the lawsuit, but a response is due by June 25th.

What does all of this mean for the residents of Washington, D.C? Well, right now working and lower-income Black families are fearing for the homes due to widespread gentrification. The gentrification of their city has plagued them with worry, and they have every right to feel that way. Over the past few years, the number of Black families in the capital has been on the decline and this lawsuit has the potential to aid the residents and give them peace of mind that their homes won’t be taken.

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