Home > News > ACLU-NJ Sues Housing Complex for Religious Discrimination

July 28, 2004

NEWARK, NJ — The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey announced today that it had filed suit against the owner and managing agent of the Roberto Clemente-Shalom Towers in Newark for religious discrimination.

The suit was brought on behalf of Pastor Delores Keels, a tenant in the Towers who has held religious services in the community room of the Towers for the past seven years. The community room is open for use by tenants on a first-come-first-served basis, so long as one month's advance notice is given. The room is used for many purposes including political rallies, birthday parties, and New Year's Eve parties. Recently, the managing agent of the Towers informed Pastor Keels that she could no longer use the community room for religious meetings.

“The denial of Pastor Keels' use of the community room is blatant discrimination on the basis of religion,” stated Lenora M. Lapidus, Legal Director of the ACLU-NJ. “New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination prohibits such discrimination.”

Although no other tenant has been denied use of the community room for any purpose, the managing agent discriminatorily restricted Pastor Keels' use of the room for religious meetings. Despite repeated requests made on behalf of Pastor Keels, neither the managing agent nor the owner has offered a satisfactory explanation for the denial.

“I am very troubled by the Towers' denial of my request to use the community room for religious meetings,” stated Pastor Keels. “I have been using the room for the past seven years without any problem. I believe I should be able to use the community room just as every other tenant in the building is able to use the community room. I hope the owner and agent will allow me to once again hold my religious meetings there.”

The case, Delores E. Keels v. Marzulli Realty and Roberto Clemente-Shalom Towers, Inc, was filed in the New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, Essex County. The law firm McCarter & English in Newark, New Jersey is counsel for the plaintiff on behalf of the ACLU of New Jersey.

Categories: Religious Freedom