Boston Mayor Michelle Wu showed up Wednesday to the controversial "Electeds of Color" holiday party for non-white officials in a city-owned building and defended the segregated festivities.

"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. But I assure you, everyone on the Boston City Council has got an invitation to multiple types of events and holiday parties," Wu said outside the city's Parkman House, according to the Daily Mail.

What is the background?

The party broadly came to light earlier Wednesday after an official in Wu's office mistakenly sent invitations to the party meant only for non-white officials to the entire city council, a number of whom are white.

Denise DosSatnos — director of city council relations in the mayor's administration — sent the errant email and then followed it up with an apology 15 minutes later, WFXT-TV reported: "I did send that to everyone by accident, I apologize if my email may have offended or came across as so. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.”

Here's a look at the 13-member city council:

Image source: City of Boston

Image source: City of Boston

The Daily Mail, citing the Boston Herald, said seven white council members ultimately were not invited to the party, and six people of color were invited.

White council member Frank Baker told WHDH-TV he sees the non-white gathering as "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.”

'In place for many, many years'

Wu and Russell Holmes, a Massachusetts state representative, said outside the event that there are many examples of groups based on race, such as the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C., the Daily Mail said.

Earlier in the day, Wu noted that the "Electeds of Color" group "has been in place for many, many years. 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," the Daily Mail added.

Michael McCormack, an attorney and former five-term Boston city councilor, told the Daily Mail that Wu hosting an exclusive party is not typical of her office and said former mayors Tom Menino and Ray Flynn would have invited the entire city council.

"The problem is that Boston and race, unfortunately, are synonymous. I'm just hoping it was a mistake. It's not something that anyone in the mayor's office should be proud of," McCormack added to the outlet.

According to black city council member Brian Worrell, "We make space and spaces for all kinds of specific groups in the city and city government. This is no different, and the Elected Officials of Color has been around for more than a decade," the Daily Mail reported, citing the Boston Herald.

Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson said there are "no need for apologies at all" regarding the party, the Daily Mail said: "Just like there are groups that meet based on shared interests or cultural backgrounds, it's completely natural for elected officials of color to gather for a holiday celebration."

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