BOSTON Mayor Michelle Wu defended her administration’s hosting of a “electeds of color” holiday party on Wednesday.
With Massachusetts state representative Russell Holmes at her side, Wu told media that “some of the folks who are concerned might also just not have all the information.”
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![White councilors were accidentally sent invitations and had them rescinded](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/mayor-michelle-wu-speaks-media-866255619.jpg)
Wu and Holmes defended the holiday party by bringing up examples of similar events across the country including the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C.
“I can understand someone might be confused or worried if certain people weren’t being invited at all or were being left out of any type of celebration,” Wu said.
“But I assure you, everyone on the Boston City Council has got an invitation to multiple types of events and holiday parties.”
The “electeds of color” party has been hosted for years, but only came under fire this year after a mishap with invitations.
All 13 members of city council received an invitation to the event before the seven white councilors had their invitations rescinded 15 minutes later.
“The controversy really should be that this is the first time we’ve had a woman mayor and a person of color and Asian elected here in the city,” Holmes said.
Democratic Councilor Frank Baker didn’t agree with the deflection, saying the event was divisive.
“I do find it divisive, but what are you going to do about it. You don’t want me at a party, I’m not going to come to a party,” Baker said to WHDH.
“I find it unfortunate that with the temperature the way it is, that we would further that division,” he also said to the Boston Herald.
Wu defended the embarrassing email mishap, saying everyone has accidentally sent an email out by mistake.
She also fired back at the claims of exclusion, saying “everyone” has gotten invites to other events.
“This is a group that has been in place for many, many years,” Wu said.
“We celebrate all kinds of connection and identity and culture and heritage in the city.
“Just yesterday we hosted our official City Hall Hanukkah lighting. We have had tree lightings, and we want to be a city where everyone’s identity is embraced, and that there are spaces and communities we can help support.”