Discrimination against Jews in Florida resorts outside of the Miami area, creates the most undemocratic pattern of resort and real estate practices of any state in the Union, it was revealed today in a survey made public by the Anti-Defamation League of British.
The state-wide Florida survey of 809 resort hotels and real estate agencies showed that Jewish applicants were acceptable in only 28 percent of the cases. Non-Jews applying for accommodations in the same hotels showed an acceptance rate of 62 percent.
A side from these specific figures revealed by the survey, investigation of the policies of hotels and real estate agencies show that many stated baldly that they catered only to Gentiles. Others used stock euphemisms such as “restricted clientele” and “selected clientele” to indicate their policy that no Jews were wanted.
Almost every resort center on Florida’s East and West Coast has establishments which exclude Jews while the Central and Northern areas of the state show comparatively little discrimination, the survey established. Discrimination was particularly acute, the study showed, in two Florida communities – Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach. Fifty six percent of the hotels in Fort Lauderdale indicated discrimination against Jews in replies to requests for reservations with an additional four percent using language which might be construed as discriminatory.
In addition, a spot check of 88 Fort Lauderdale resort establishments revealed that 73 displayed discriminatory outdoor signs such as “Restricted Clientele,” “Selected Clientele,” and “Gentiles Only.” In Delray Beach, a community which openly boasts of being “the only city on the East Coast fully restricted to Gentiles,” Jewish applicants have virtually no chance of being accepted, the League reports. Half of the replies received by an individual with a “Jewish” name contained categorical discriminatory statements while the remainder used subtle phraseology indicating that Jewish guests were not welcome.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
