American Jewish Congress Asks New York State Court to Bar Real Estate Covenants

The American Jewish Congress today filed with the ?ppellate Division, Second Department, a brief urging the court not to enforce agreements restricting sale or use of real property because of race, color or creed.

The brief argues that enforcement of restrictive covenants would be against the public policy of New York and of the United States. Pointing out that New York State has been a leader in the enactment of legislation forbidding discrimination because of race, color or creed and that the State Constitution itself asserts a policy against discrimination, the brief urges that contracts incorporating dis-priminatory practices be denied enforcement by the courts. The brief also emphasizes that enforcement of restrictive covenants is against the policy enunciated by the report of the President’s Committee on Civil Rights and contained in the provisions of the United Nations Charter.