Austin businesses slapped with mysterious stickers: 'Exclusively for white people'

Officials in Austin, Texas are investigating a spate of stickers spotted on several local businesses calling them "Exclusively for white people," the Austin-American Statesman reported.

State Rep. Dawnna Dukes (D) posted a picture of one of the stickers on her Facebook page, saying she was told about it by a constituent.

"Some jokes just are not funny," she wrote. "If this is a joke at all, it is tasteless. Pardon mon française mais, I will be damned if this will occur in my House Disrtict, disrtict 46 on my watch on 12th St. in this historical Black Community or any community."

Her post can be seen in its entirety below:

The stickers were found on at least six establishments in the city's East side, saying, "Maximum of 5 colored customers/colored BOH [back of house] staff accepted," while also bearing the city's seal. But City officials quickly condemned the stickers.

"This is an affront to who we are as a City and who we are as a community," City Manager Marc Ott told KEYE-TV. "This type of cowardly and hateful act will not be tolerated in this city."

The head of the local NAACP chapter, Nelson Linder, said his organization would be monitoring the situation. He also rejected the idea that the stickers constituted a worthwhile protest against gentrification in the community.

"Don't put signs like that on people’s doors because you want to bring attention to your plight," he said.