Racist newspaper ad causes controversy

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- A racist newspaper ad is causing controversy.

A local law firm is helping to sell a piece of land, but not to everyone. The ad says the land cannot be sold, leased, or rented to anyone who is not Caucasian.

It has appeared twice this month in the New Bedford Standard Times.

A New Bedford woman has filed a complaint against Harmon Law for purchasing the ad and against the New Bedford Standard Times for publishing it.

New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang spoke out about the ad on Friday.

“The idea that someone would put a restriction based on any of the protected classes of the Civil Rights Act...is a disgrace,” Lang said.

Harmon Law released a statement that reads in part: “This notice involves a restriction that a previous owner placed on the property. It is industry practice to include in the notice of sale the exact legal description.”

New Bedford Standard Times Publisher Mary Harrington issued an apology for the ad on Friday.

“The notice provided by the advertiser was discriminatory and highly offensive. It was a gross error on our part to publish the notice and we sincerely apologize to our readers," Harrington said.

It is unknown if the current owner knew about the restrictions. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination is investigating.

(Copyright (c) 2010 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)