Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-09-16
NAAcP H0Ifs
Eviction Of F0EniIV
For RdeiuI Bios

GOu N0Su0a 8a0S
The Minneapolis NAACP sue
ceSsfully concluded a month of
investigation into a case of
housing discrimination this
week by convincing the accus-
ed real estate broker to adopt
an open policy on some 200
rental properties in the City Of
Minneapolis.
Accused was the BARRETT Realty
company, 4S25 Minnetonka blvd,
and its owner, ZoIlie Baretz.
The case was brought to the at
tention Of the NH City NAACP
branch early In August by Mrs.
Mary Daniel, 800 Irving Av. NJ,
who accused the Barrett company
Of discrimination at the Irving Av.
address.
Mrs. Daniel, who Is white and,
Il separated from her Negro hls-
band, applied to the Barrett COM
pany for the rental Of the empty
apartment at 800 Irving AV. N.
The company, in turn, rented the
apartment to her but without the
knowledge that she was the mother
of four children. ages one and one
half to six years Of age, by her
colored husband
Shortly after moving into the
apartment, Mrs Daniel received
q letter from the realty company
over the signature Of zoIlie Baretx.
According to the letter, Baretz
Indicated that when he rented the
apartment to MrA Daniel, he did
30 with the understanding that he
was not renting to q colored fam
lily.
Said Baretz, Il have found II
unsatisfactory to mix colored fam
lies and white families in one
building. I have colored tenants
and white tenants In many build
ings, but not in the same build
ingB."
The real estate man then asked
Mrs Daniel to move whereupon
Mrs. Daniel referred the case to
the NAACP.
Working az a committee Of
three, branch board directors John
Carmichael, James Luger, and
Samuel Scheiner, executive direc-
tor Of the Jewish Community Re
lations council began investigating
the case.
Together with Rabbi Moses
Sachs Of B'naI Abraham Syna-
gogue center in St Louis Park.
the committee called on Baretz who
indicated his company's policy was
based upon possible frictions to
be created between the mixing Of
white and colored families In the
same buildings" According TO Bar
etz, there was never any effort to
be discriminatory because Of any
racial or religious antipathy. In
essence, said Baretz. the policy
Just grew from accepted real c.
tate practices throughout the Twin
City area
The first investigating commit
tea turned the case over to the
NAACP housing committee two
weeks ago. The housing commit
tee consisting Of Mrs. Eugene
Gould, chairman Of the Mayors
human rights commission, william
Cratic, and Robert Williams, ex-
ecutive secretary Of Mpls. Urban
League, began a series Of concili-
atory meetings with Baretz and
announced at the September 8
NAACP board meeting that efforts
by the company to have Mrs. DAN
tel move had been halted.
Scheiner and the Jewish Com
munity Relations council also an
nounced the Barrett company
would begin distributing form let
ters to all Of its rental property
caretakers requesting that mo
property should be refused a per-
son because Of his color, religion
or national origin"
The letter also requests that al
persons regardless Of race, creed
or color be shown any available
apartments the company might
have.