The United States Government was urged today by the American Jewish Committee to take anti-trust action against realtors in the nation’s capital who practice racial and religious discrimination in housing.
Irving M. Engel, honorary president of the organization, told the United States Commission on Civil Rights that “a pattern of planned housing discrimination” existed against Jews, Negroes and members of other minority groups. The commission is holding hearings here on discriminatory practices.
Mr. Engel asserted that in at least 13 separate residential areas in Washington and nearby Maryland suburbs realtors were responsible for “undemocratic and offensive practices” and a concerted refusal to deal with members of minority groups. He suggested that “this concerted refusal” might violate the Sherman anti-trust law.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.