Private Pool Bans Minority Campers
 

Private Pool Bans Minority Campers
By RON TODT

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. (July 10) - State officials will investigate accusations of racial discrimination against a suburban Philadelphia swim club that allegedly reacted to a visiting group of minority children by asking them not to return.
A local television station reported that club president John Duesler issued a statement saying, "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club."

read the rest
http://news.aol.com/article/philadel...ool-ban/564346

I read about that on PP.

For those that say racism doesn't exist...:rolleyes:

Perhaps all of the GC resident attorneys can weigh in

From what I gleaned from the article, this is a private club where one has to pay a membership to use the pool. I wonder if it's a socioeconomic prejudice vs a racial one? "Poor" kids from a daycare environment as opposed to African-American children.

I'll take off my "law student" hat for this one and simply say that the club president saying "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," (emphasis added) was monumentally stupid. It sure sounds like a racial thing when he puts it in those terms.

Exactly. Especially when you have members of the club contradicting all of the other claims, "overcrowding" and such.

It broke my heart a little to read this:

Day camp member Araceli Carvalho, 9, said she was upset when told she wouldn't be allowed to return.
"I said, 'That's not right,'" she said.
But when asked if she wants to return now, she said, "I don't want to swim here anymore."

This is how little children respond to racism, by closing themselves off from possibilities as a defense mechanism, to protect themselves from further rejection. This is how these little acts take a long term toll.

I agree.

Wow, I'm from the south and even I'm suprised by this...

This was my first thought.

Social class and race are virtually inseparable in America so it is undoubtedly both.

The people at the pool said and did dumb and intolerant things. "Changing the complexion" is a phrase sometimes used to refer to a change in tone or atmosphere. However, in reference to 65 Black and Hispanic kids that comment will always have racial overtones and undertones.

Other than that, this story doesn't move me.

I know right. I can't believe there is not one white kid attending that camp.

If there isn't, is that racism in your mind?

It was a joke. This is what I consider racist.

I totally agree.

Also, some people from the private club said that they have turned away other groups before after realizing they couldn't handle the capacity, but what I don't get is if you (the club) have already tried a similar program that didn't work b/c of a capacity issue, why would they offer to do it to other groups later on?

Wow...just wow. I hope the kids who did it get caught.

Congratulations on finding white victims of a perceived hate crime. Your point?

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. – The head of a private suburban Philadelphia swim club on Friday defended its cancellation of the memberships of dozens of minority children, saying safety, not racism, was the reason.

"We deeply regret this whole situation," John Duesler, president of the board of directors of The Valley Club, told reporters Friday afternoon at the entrance to the club in the leafy suburb of Huntingdon Valley.

[ full story ]

Nice attempt at spinning this, I guess.