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A lawyer has come forward to claim responsibility for the “exclusively for white people” stickers posted in several Austin, Texas businesses during the city’s popular South By Southwest (SXSW) festival last week.

In a video posted last Thursday, Adam Reposa says that the words on the stickers are not the problem, but the fact that East Austin is “turning into whites only” because of gentrification is, though he doesn’t use that word.

RELATED: Austin Mayor Outraged Over “Whites Only” Sticker During SXSW

As reported by NewsOne, all heck broke loose when patrons of at least six businesses saw stickers last Wednesday which read in part “Exclusively for white people. Maximum of 5 colored customers, colored BOH (Back of House) staff accepted” plastered on their windows. Austin Mayor Steve Adler released a statement saying the stickers were “appalling” and that the perpetrator would be dealt with.

Turns out that perpetrator was Reposa, who posted a video on YouTube and made a statement on Facebook saying he was trying bring light to the the issue of gentrification in East Austin, reports local station KXAN.

The video, titled “Why I Did It” shows Reposa shirtless and in silhouette, smoking a cigarette and talking in front of one of the businesses where the stickers were found. In the clip, Reposa says in part,

“The real problem is that people without money are getting f***ed. They’re getting pushed out pretty quick. This area of town is turning into white’s only. Not by law like it used to be…And everyone’s going to jump on, ‘that’s racist!’ ‘that’s racist!’ Man, this town, the way **** works is racist! And I knew I could just bait all of y’all into being just as stupid as you are. Just allowing the issue to be framed in the most simple way.”

At this time it’s unclear if any charges will be filed against Reposa.

See the video below. Now that we know the stickers were meant as a critique of gentrification, does that change your thoughts on them? [WARNING: Video contains profanity]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGzSBslnIQQ%5D

SOURCE: KXAN

UPDATE: Man Behind “Whites Only” Stickers Says They Are Critique Of Gentrification [VIDEO]  was originally published on newsone.com