NEW YORK (Diya TV) — The Department of Justice has put New York City on notice over potential discrimination based on skin color in federally assisted housing programs. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon warned city officials that anti-white discrimination will not be tolerated under federal law. In a post on X, Dhillon wrote, “Just because you’re white doesn’t mean that you have fewer rights in this country.” She said the Justice Department is closely monitoring New York City’s housing policies under the new administration.
Dhillon’s warning comes after a 2021 video resurfaced showing the city’s newly appointed Tenant Director, Cea Weaver, linking homeownership to “white supremacy.” In the video, Weaver suggested shifting property ownership from an individual right to a collective model under shared equity programs. She said this approach would require rethinking property rights and would affect families differently based on race.
The Justice Department cited Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs that receive federal financial support. New York City receives significant federal funding for housing and related initiatives.
Dhillon emphasized that all citizens have equal rights. “We will not stand for New York City violating any federal law whatsoever,” she said. “They should be on notice. We will swoop right in to protect all residents.”
The controversy centers on Weaver’s past comments and social media posts. In 2018, she compared homeownership to “white supremacy” and called for more communist leadership. She also said, “Impoverish the white middle class. Homeownership is racist/failed public policy,” according to the New York Post.
Weaver later expressed regret for her past remarks. Through Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s press office, she said, “Regretful comments from years ago do not change what has always been clear — my commitment to making housing affordable and equitable for New York’s renters.”
Despite the controversy, Mayor Mamdani defended Weaver. At a news conference Tuesday, he said, “We decided to have Cea Weaver serve as our executive director for the mayor’s office to protect tenants, to build on the work that she has done to protect tenants across the city, and we were already seeing the results of that work.”
Dhillon stated that the DOJ will pay close attention to recent housing developments. The assistant attorney general stressed that federal law prohibits any racial discrimination in programs funded with taxpayer dollars. She warned that New York City officials could face swift federal action if violations are found.
“Just because you’re white doesn’t mean you have fewer rights in this country,” Dhillon said in an interview with One America News Network. “We all have equal rights, and the Justice Department will act to protect all citizens, taxpayers, and residents who are legally in New York.”
Legal experts say this is part of a broader trend of the federal government scrutinizing city-level housing policies to ensure compliance with civil rights laws. Title VI applies to all federally funded programs, making it a critical tool in preventing racial discrimination.
