We can understand the logic in Pennsylvania, really. After all, if Geno Steaks owner Joey Vento can get away with picking fights with Hispanic people, two white teens can beat a Hispanic man to death and get convicted of simple assault, a bonehead can kill a black man 17 years ago and get convicted of only plotting the murder and possession of the weapon because one juror refused to convict on the murder charge and neo-Nazis can become corrections officers and can only risk getting fired if they kill their girfriend and their son, why wouldn’t a swim club in the suburbs of Philadelphia feel comfortable enough to boot a black swimming club from the premises for the expressed feeling that they would change the complexion of the club? Now of course the response from those trying to find a way to defend the club are suggesting that maybe the kids were unruly, but when asked by the local press, club spokespeople never made mention of such concerns. We even include the statement found on the club’s website – as well as a report from a member saying none of the kids were unruly. This is only going to lead to one thing. Cue omnious music. Hell is about to be paid. It’s pretty odd when Philadelphia, Mississippi – known best for where three civil rights workers were brutally murdered – is getting more progressive by electing their first black mayor, than Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who still wants to paint their most racist mayor Frank Rizzo as the local hero. Having said that, this is still the city that was also solidly behind Barack Obama in the election and where he gave his speech on improving race relations. This club better explain itself a little better than it has.
USA Today
A private suburban Philadelphia swimming pool that booted 65 minority campers amid concerns that “a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club” faces a Senate investigation and possibly a lawsuit.
The NBC affiliate in Philadelphia reports that Creative Steps Day Camp paid the Valley Swim Club more than $1,900 for one day of swimming a week this summer. After the first day, the money was refunded, and the campers were told not to return.
No explanation was given, but the TV station says some of the campers recalled overhearing racial comments while at the club.
Then swim club president John Duesler issued the “complexion” explanation. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., called the situation “disturbing” and said he will investigate. The Philadelpha Inquirer reports that parents and staff of the day camp are “considering legal action.”
There is some good news. The TV station reports that the staff at Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single-parent homes, has offered their pool.
“We had to help,” Girard College Director of Admissions Tamara Leclair told the station. “Every child deserves an incredible summer camp experience.”
Statement from the Valley Club
The Valley Club is deeply troubled by the recent allegations of racism which are completely untrue.
We had originally agreed to invite the camps to use our facility, knowing full well that the children from the camps were from multi-ethnic backgrounds. Unfortunately, we quickly learned that we underestimated the capacity of our facilities and realized that we could not accommodate the number of children from these camps. All funds were returned to the camps and we will re-evaluate the issue at a later date to determine whether it can be feasible in the future.
Our Valley Club deplores discrimination in any form, as is evidenced by our multi-ethnic and diverse membership. Whatever comments may or may not have been made by an individual member is an opinion not shared by The Valley Club Board.
Member Contradicts Swim Club Statement
Fox 29
HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. – A suburban Philadelphia swim member tells the AP she didn’t see inner-city kids misbehaving at a pool they were later barred from.
Amy Goldman said she’s been a member of the Valley Club for two years. She said the pool wasn’t particularly crowded and the children from Creative Steps daycare were “well behaved and respectful.”
She said there had been black members at the club in the past, though she couldn’t remember seeing any this year.
The club responded on Thursday to allegations it banned kids from its pool because of their race.
In a statement issued late Thursday afternoon, the club said racism charges were “untrue.”
“The Valley Club is deeply troubled by the recent allegations of racism which are completely untrue.
“We had originally agreed to invite the camps to use our facility, knowing full well that the children from the camps were from multi-ethnic backgrounds.
“Unfortunately, we quickly learned that we underestimated the capacity of our facilities and realized that we could not accommodate the number of children from these camps. “
The Valley Club in Huntington Valley, Pa., had shut down early on Thursday. A dozen protesters were at the facility later in the day.
Fox 29 first brought you this story two days ago, and the outrage has been growing ever since:
It should have been a summer of fun here at the Valley Club, just outside Philadelphia. But care-free days became controversial, when a big group of inner-city kids were turned away from the swim club.
“Most of the parents I spoke to, their issue was more of a safety issue than anything else, and not a racial issue,” says Jim Flynn, a Club Member.
But it did become all about race, when some of the new visitors allegedly overheard a white mother complaining.
“And I heard this lady, she was like, what are all these black kids doing here? She was like, I’m scared they might do something to my child,” said Bymir Baylor.
“She said she don’t want any black kids there, and there’s too many of them.” And what did you think when you heard that? “It was just ignorant,” said Shuron Davis, an 11 year old.
The controversy began two Mondays ago, when 65 black and Hispanic kids from a Philadelphia daycare showed up here for what were supposed to be weekly visits.
The manager of the daycare made the arrangements by phone and internet, and had paid for the summer up front. But after only one visit, the arrangement was cancelled.
“I got a phone call from the board chair saying, you’re no longer going to be able to swim here,” said Alethea Wright of Creative Steps Daycare
The president of the Valley Club told Fox 29 by phone the club “underestimated the impact the children would have.”
He said they “fundamentally changed the atmosphere” at the pool.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission will be taking a much closer look at that explanation.
Commission Chairman Stephen A. Glassman says his agency will launch an immediate probe Thursday into allegations that The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley discriminated against the Creative Steps day camp from northeast Philadelphia.
Jim Flynn insists though, the members here are not racist.
“No issue,” said Flynn. “It was strictly an overcrowding situation. “Strictly an overcrowding and a safety situation because I believe there were two lifeguards on, and that’s just not enough.”
Sen. Arlen Specter and the NAACP are also looking into the matter, as well.
Club President John Duesler also told Fox 29 news that several club members complained because the children “fundamentally changed the atmosphere” at the pool, but he says th
e complaints didn’t involve race.
The club president said allowing day cares at the pool was an “experiment” that didn’t work out. He said other programs were disinvited, as well.
Duesler didn’t immediately respond to messages left for him Wednesday by The Associated Press at the club and at his home.
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