While the NAACP prepares to celebrate its 100 year anniversary in New York later this week, a race controversy is swirling around a private swim club in the Philadelphia area, making some people wonder what year this is.
NBC Philadelphia is reporting that The Valley Swim Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania turned away 65 black and Hispanic kids after the Creative Steps Day Camp paid the club over $1,900 by e-mail in advance to let its campers use the pool.
The report says the kids said they heard racist comments on their first day at the pool. "I heard this lady, she was like, 'Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?' She's like, 'I'm scared they might do something to my child,'" said camper Dymire Baylor.
The very next day, the club reportedly contacted the camp’s director Alethea Wright and told her that they were suspending the camp’s pool membership and would be refunding the money. They did not give Wright a reason for this action.
Wright says she told the club, “The parents don't want their money back. They want a good place for their children to swim, which is what they paid for.”
"There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement, according to NBC Philadelphia.
Fox News reported Duesler admitted that club members had complained about the campers, but said the complaints were not race-related and insisted that the club’s decision to suspend the camp’s use of the pool had nothing to do with race.
I called the club several times to try to get a comment on this situation and was greeted with an upbeat voicemail that promoted plenty of club membership openings. I couldn’t leave a message because their mailbox was full. I also tried reaching them by e-mail and have not yet received a reply.
CNN reported that one of their producers was told to leave the premises. The TV station said they were told Duesler had no comment, but that another man who said he was the one who had complained to the director spoke to them. CNN reported that he said space not race was the issue and that there were other camps using the pool too and it was just too crowded.
Several parents are reportedly considering taking legal action against the club and U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) is planning to launch an investigation into the discrimination claim to find out exactly what happened.
"The allegations against the swim club as they are reported are extremely disturbing," Specter said in a statement. "I am reaching out to the parties involved to ascertain the facts. Racial discrimination has no place in America today."
YodadogProductions put a video on YouTube that examines the photos on the club’s website.
In the meantime, the Creative Steps Day Camp kids will have a place to swim this summer. Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single parent homes, has invited the campers to swim at their facilities.
Watch AP Video:
Message Edited by Chelsea-Badeau on 07-09-200904:13 PM
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This was a private swim club. Even though this camp paid for the use of the pool, they have every right to refuse service to anyone. Having lived in Philly all my life and seeing what happened to once beautiful neighborhoods like Kensington, Juniata, Wissinoming,and Mayfair,I don't blame the swim club for refusing to let them in. If they don't like it,let them go to a public pool.
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First, let's clear up your error. A private club CANNOT refuse service based on race--it's discrimination. Second, it's people like you who harbor these racist sentiments that cause te problem. These are kids who wanted to swim and race should have no place in this. Your ignorance is sad, please educate yourself.
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this is awful.this is so why america is falling apart.i am white but i call me a human i hate labels.i bet these racists go to church every sunday.why do whites think all crime is a black thing.the lady who said i hope nothing happens to her child well lady it all ready did by you.i am so glad my parents taught me all of us are the same.back in the day .i was call every racist name because my friend skin was darker.i am so ashamed of the whites who do this because than all blacks people think all whites are like you..if it was not for black people you would not have a lot of things they invented.which by the way the whiteman stole..i have one word for these racist leave america..go back where your ancestors came from shame shame on you..for god will take care of you on judgement day.these are children not excons..compare the crime the white man does ..these racist make me sick
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Oh God!!! I guess Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson will be here before to long. This will become a three ring circus before you know it. All because a private club that get no tax- payer dollars made a business decision. Spector in going to launch an investigation.... maybe he should figure out why all the bailout dollars haven't done a blessed thing. Of course, maybe ACORN will come in with our tax money and just buy out the club or build their own. It just gets better.
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"This was a private swim club. Even though this camp paid for the use of the pool, they have every right to refuse service to anyone"...apparently they were "public" enough to accepth the $1900 payment. I don't by the overcrowding issue because there is probably a fee per child so they had to have known how many kids would be present at the pool on any given day. They, and you, shoul dbe ashamed of yourselves...this is 2009 and minorities are still lambasted with Race. Remember...these are just kids, what have they done to deserve any of this. Did you ever think that maybe, for once, it is not the Blacks or Hispanics that have the problem? And to your Kensington comment...unless you were there to offer a solution you are just part of the problem.
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jmr1966, you're missing the point. This club ALLOWED the booking, and took the money first. They changed their mind AFTER seeing the color of the children's skin. They've opened themselves up to a huge lawsuit, and have made it obvious their decision was race related. Someone dropped the ball on this one. If they we're at all concerned, then why not screen applicants before taking their money??
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The sad part is that a few people treat black people like dirt and we all get the blame for it. Another thought is that we tell them they are not invited and then wonder why they are upset.
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I can't believe the ignorance of people these days! I am white and have relatives that are hispanic and I am so tired of the stigma that is put on race. I never owned slaves as my children never will either...however race is always an issue. I have been discriminated against when I worked in the DC area because I was white. It is a nasty thing when America can not see beyond color. Grow up people we are all human and we all bleed the same.
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