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New Jersey landlord John Graham is being sued for refusing to rent to a Black woman and sending her a racially charged texts, calling his property “a n****r free zone.”

A New Jersey landlord John Graham is being sued for refusing to rent to a Black woman and sending her a racist texts according to NJ.com.

Graham allegedly sent racially charged texts such as “white power,” “KKK,” and referred to the unidentified woman as “a slave.”

According to reports, last February the woman contacted Graham to see on of his apartments in Paramus, NJ. Then when she informed him she could not visit the complex until two days later, he hung up the phone. A few days later she asked him could he send photos of the property and he responded “No thank you. Do not make the cut.” When the woman questioned this response, Graham proceeded to send a slew of racial slurs, even going as far to call the property “a n****r free zone.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charging Graham for violating The Fair Housing Act. This law states that is illegal to deny housing to someone because of their race or ethnicity.

HUD’s general counsel J. Paul Compton said that HUD is standing against the blatant acts of racism saying, “no one looking for housing should be rejected because of race, much less be subjected to the indignity of racial slurs.”

“This charge sends a clear message that HUD will protect the housing rights of all persons to the fullest extent of the law,” Compton added.

Anna Maria Farias, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity said, “[this] action reflects HUD’s commitment to protecting the rights of home seekers, no matter their race, and taking action against housing providers that break the law.”

The charges will be heard by an administrative judge unless either party wants the case held in federal court, where punitive damages could be awarded.

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