A major out-of-state luxury resort hotel charged with violation of the New York State anti-discrimination law has closed its New York offices, it was revealed today. The action was taken by The Homestead of Hot Springs, Va., after charges against it by Mrs. David Kaplan of Jackson Heights, N. Y., who accused the hotel of having rejected her request for reservations “solely because of my being of the Jewish faith. “
The charges had been filed before the State Commission Against Discrimination and were supported by a memorandum of law from the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith. In informing the League of the hotel’s action, the State Commission said that the brief filed by the hotel’s defense attorneys contended that by closing its New York office “it is no longer possible for the Homestead to discriminate in New York and that therefore the case against it becomes “moot.”
In an answering memorandum filed with SCAD, the Anti-Defamation League asserted that The Homestead’s practice of discrimination remains “a live issue, ” despite the fact that it has closed its offices in New York. “The Homestead, ” ADL declared, “operated an office in New York for many years. Unless SCAD orders the hotel to cease discrimination in New York State, there will be nothing to prevent it from reopening a New York office and resuming its bigoted policy at a future date. “
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