Mitchell Hamline School of Law will work with the City of Saint Paul to help homeowners remove discriminatory racial covenants on their property deeds.
The partnership, announced Monday, is part of the city’s move to become one of nearly two dozen Minnesota cities to in a coalition called Just Deeds.
Just Deeds is a collaborative effort between community groups, attorneys, and government agencies to identify and remove racial covenants on property deeds in Minnesota. In the early 20th century, racial covenants were a common practice that placed legal agreements on property deeds that prohibited the sale or lease of property to African Americans and other people of color. There was also a time when they were used to exclude Catholics and Jews. The aim was to maintain segregation and prevent integration in neighborhoods.
While they are now illegal and unenforceable, the language of these covenants remains a painful reminder of the racist policies that have shaped Saint Paul’s history.
“Racial covenants are a dark chapter in our city’s history,” said Mayor Melvin Carter, who spoke at a press conference at Mitchell Hamline. “Words matter, and we’re committed to ensuring everyone in our community feels like they belong.”
The city will work with Mitchell Hamline’s Center for the Study of Black Life to identify volunteer attorneys and legal professionals, including law students, to assist with the effort. “Mitchell Hamline is proud to be part of this important effort that will...
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