Today, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) released the following statement as a status update on an investigation into allegations of illegal housing advertisement discrimination. The allegations related to a roommate wanted posting in a Grand Rapids area church which indicated a preference for a "Christian roommate."

"MDCR received this case from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of a long-standing partnership in which MDCR is contracted to conduct certain investigations for HUD. As with every complaint investigation, when MDCR received the signed complaint it opened an investigation to determine the facts surrounding the allegation and began to review the law by which those facts would be assessed. In this instance the investigation revealed legal issues that involved questions of federal and possibly US Constitutional law, which required that we coordinate with HUD to assure uniform application nationwide. During our consultations with HUD, they determined that the issues presented were ones they wanted to address within the agency rather than through a state partner. They requested we return the file to them, which we have done.

The claimant in this case had the right to file a complaint under the Fair Housing Act's prohibition of discriminatory/preferential statements. MDCR was still investigating and at no time did we state or even imply a conclusion that the posting of this particular advertisement was indeed a violation of the law. MDCR does not engage in speculation. We do not comment on the specifics of an open investigation until we have reached an official determination, and we do not reach a determination until after an investigation is complete and it can be based on all of (and only) the facts. In this instance, we sincerely wish everyone would have done the same.

Because some chose to ignore the difference between conducting a legally-required investigation and the decision to bring a charge of discrimination based upon that investigation when appropriate, this office and specifically a member of our staff was subjected to a barrage of phone calls, emails, comments, posts and blog entries. Although these communications were premature in that they falsely accused us of having made a determination, they were mostly valid expressions of
personal opinion, which the Department is always interested in receiving. However, many also included threats or other inappropriate personal attacks. The Department of Civil Rights will not tolerate such conduct, which it believes is never appropriate. All threatening communications have been and will be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement authorities."

For more information on the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, visit www.michigan.gov/mdcr.