Justice Department: Files Lawsuit Against Racist Trailer Park

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the former owner and managers of Homestead Mobile Home Village in Gulfport, Mississippi for violating the Fair Housing Act. According to the lawsuit, Edward and Barbara Hamilton, who managed the mobile home park, harassed and discriminated against several Black tenants by evicting them for allegedly violating the rules of the park but did not evict the White tenants for the same infractions. Several of the tenants were there after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The suit names Indigo Investments LLC as the owner of Homestead Mobile Home Park. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for those residents harmed by the Harrisons’ actions.

“No one should have to suffer harassing, unequal treatment from a landlord based on one’s race or color,” said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute any landlord who engages in racial discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act.”-WLW