The complaint alleges that Fletcher began to oppose discrimination (or conduct that he [*6]perceived as discriminatory) after he was elected president of the coop board in May 2007. In or about September 2007, he complained to defendant Nitze that another board member's reference to certain applicants as "Jewish mafia" was "not appropriate." The applicants were initially rejected, although plaintiff and one other board member voted to approve. He further alleged that, "[a]lthough defendant Nitze tried to persuade Fletcher not to raise the issue again, Fletcher urged the Board to reconsider the couple's application 'on the record.' " The board granted the couple an interview, after which it approved the application.
Fletcher's protest that the "Jewish mafia" comment and the general tenor of the discussion about the Jewish couple's "ethnicity and religion" were inappropriate constitutes the kind of activity that is protected under the State HRL. Thus, the first element of a retaliation claim was alleged.