Staffers for Boston Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu accidentally sent a holiday party invitation exclusively for “electeds of color” to all members of the Boston City Council.

Denise DosSantos, who serves as director of relations with City Council members, sent an email invitation “on behalf of Mayor Michelle Wu” to a holiday party for the six lawmakers who are members of racial minority groups, according to a copy of the message obtained by the Boston Herald. She sent another apology email fifteen minutes later since the message was also mistakenly sent to the seven white lawmakers on the City Council.

“I wanted to apologize for my previous email regarding a Holiday Party for tomorrow,” DosSantos wrote. “I did send that to everyone by accident, and I apologize if my email may have offended or came across as so. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.”

Frank Baker, a white man and an outgoing member of the City Council, said in a comment to the Boston Herald that the exclusive holiday party was “unfortunate and divisive” but said he was not personally offended by the email. “I find it unfortunate that with the temperature the way it is, that we would further that division,” Baker commented.

Tania Fernandes Anderson, a member of the City Council who is an African immigrant and a Muslim, meanwhile replied to the second email that there was “no need for apologies at all.”

“Your email should not offend anyone and there is absolutely no confusion,” she wrote. “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.”

Conservatives have criticized the increasing progressive tendency of voluntary racial segregation, contending that the practice violates the tenets of a colorblind society. Wu provoked additional criticism as social media users noted that her husband of more than a decade, real estate and financial professional Conor Pewarski, is a white man.