Philadelphia Pool Boots Kids Who "might change the complexion"

[barman]

From the Philly News (hat tip to Radley Balko's The Agitator http://www.theagitator.com)

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Pool-Boots-Kids-Who-Might-Change-the-Complexion.html

Pool Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion"

Campers sent packing after first visit to swim club


More than 60 campers from Northeast Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club and left to wonder if their race was the reason.

"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 Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1900 to The Valley Swim Club. The Valley Swim Club is a private club that advertises open membership. But the campers' first visit to the pool suggested otherwise.

"When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool," Horace Gibson, parent of a day camp child, wrote in an email. "The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately."

The next day the club told the camp director that the camp's membership was being suspended and their money would be refunded.

"I said, 'The parents don't want the refund. They want a place for their children to swim,'" camp director Aetha Wright said.

Campers remain unsure why they're no longer welcome.

"They just kicked us out. And we were about to go. Had our swim things and everything," said camper Simer Burwell.

The explanation they got was either dishearteningly honest or poorly worded.

"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.



While the parents await an apology, the camp is scrambling to find a new place for the kids to beat the summer heat.
Members of the club came forward Thursday to defend the organization. They call the situation a misunderstanding.

 

[barman]

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Swim-Club-Members-Nothing-to-Do-With-Race.html


Swim Club Members: "Nothing to Do With Race"




Campers left sad and confused by the whole situation


(Bar: Wonder how they would have responded to a busload of 60 Carrie Prejean starter kits?)

===
The waters are still and the gates are locked at the Valley Swim Club Thursday. Board members decided to close the private Huntington Valley, Pa. club for the day as it combats accusations of racism for booting 65 mostly minority day campers from its grounds without explanation late last month.

Creative Steps Day Camp paid The Valley Swim Club more than $1900 for one day of swimming a week, but after the first day, the money was quickly refunded and the campers were told not to return. Several campers said they heard pool members making racial remarks during their time inside the club.


Tempers further flared after the club's president John Duesler issued a statement Tuesday saying "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club."


Club members, who were at the pool on the day of the incident, came forward Thursday to defend the organization.


"This has nothing to do with race," member Lori Slowinski said. "I paid my money for a private swim club…if they're gonna have it out to camps, then I want my money back."


Jim Flynn went right to the club president after the kids took the plunge into the pool.


"I was the first person to talk to the president, because the pool was overcrowded," said Flynn. "As members we have nothing to hide. There's good people here."


He believes the club's closure for fear of protests is wrong. "I do not condone the club being closed today and I will not condone it."


Members are angry the club, which is advertising open enrollment, inked deals with three camps to have campers come in and swim. They say members were not notified about allowing the camps to attend the club.


The club issued this statement late Thursday, responding to the allegations of racism:

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.

​

Daniel Veres, a 16-year old Hispanic teen who is also a member, says the entire siutation is just a misunderstanding.
"We're not judgemental, we're just friendly," Veres said of the mostly white club.


For the children involved, the entire situation has left them simply sad and confused.


"I heard one lady saying 'Why's there so many black kids here' cause she said she was afraid that we might do something to her child," recalled camper Dymire Baylor. "How could they say that?"


If given the chance, the campers say they wouldn't step foot in the swim club, but they will be able to swim once again this summer. Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single parent homes, stepped in and offered their pool to Creative Steps.


"We had to help," said Girard College director of Admissions Tamara Leclair. "Every child deserves an incredible summer camp experience."


The school already serves 500 campers of its own, but felt they could squeeze in 65 more -- especially since the pool is vacant on the day the Creative Steps had originally planned to swim at Valley Swim Club.


The situation has become the center of national and international attention -- from bloggers to people on the street to the Anti-Defamation League, many are angry over the move to ban the kids. Even U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) plans to launch an investigation into the discrimination claim.


"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."





He sent a letter to Duesler and the club's board Thursday denouncing their actions.


A protest is planned outside the gates of the Valley Swim Club Thursday night.

 

[ScottL]

If this is the place I'm thinking of it used to be called Philmont Country Club on Tomlinson Rd. It's been open for over 50 years. I grew up 2 miles away. The neighborhood I grew up in was 75% Jewish. There were NO BLACKS. The reason I give this info was this private club, in a 75% Jewish neighborhood did not allow Jews. THIS WAS WELL KNOWN! They didn't allow Blacks either, but there were no Blacks living within 10 miles of the place.

When I was little all the Jews belonged to Southampton Swimclub, 7 miles further and, and almost all of us drove by this place everyday on our way. I would say, "Dad, this swimclub is so much closer. Why doesn't anyone in our neighborhood go here?" "Scott, they don't let Jews in there."

The neighborhood now is about 20% Jewish, 30% White Christian, and 50% Melting Pot. The neighborhood has changed. But the bigots at Philmont have remained.

 

[ScottL]

This place is literally a stone's throw from the Philly city limits. And Huntingdon Valley is a very nice area, outside the daily traffic jams on Huntingdon Pike.

 

[barman]

Look I understand why they might want to keep my wife's people out...From what she tells me, too many of those kids in the pool and soon every other kid's pecker is 25% shorter

But in America, damnit - we overlook those things and expect everyone to be treated with equal respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, length or girth.

 

[barman]

In the interest of fairness, I should note that in the time since I first hooked on with the long-suffering SheBar (12 1/2 years now) my own berries are at least 25% smaller, due to the time they've spent in that jar on her desk.

 

[ScottL]

Is that why your avatar always at first glance looks like a rooster with a broomstick up its ass?

 

[barman]

I realize it looks like Foggy is straining to pinch a loaf...but I'm pretty sure it's a parody of The Thinker


or so I'd like to Think

 

[winningstreak]

I do not agree with the people making comments to these children but also wonder why a private pool can not choose who they let in as members.

 

[ScottL]

WOW! I totaly overlooked this part of the story:

"There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," Roadreeler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.

 

[barman]

I do not agree with the people making comments to these children but also wonder why a private pool can not choose who they let in as members.

I'm reasonably sure that in fact, this private club does retain the legal right to discriminate against attendees for pretty much whatever reason they wish.

But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be publicly criticized or even ridiculed for such ignorant attitudes in the year 2009.

 

[winningstreak]

I agree it is unfortunate that people are not judged on their character rather than the color of their skin.

I have seen a lot of prejudice comments lately especially after watching the Micheal Jackson Memorial. Alot of focus on the The rep King but I saw prejudice from Sharpton and the woman speaker from the congressional Black Caucus as well as Jamie Foxx saying MJ is a Blackman He is ours not theirs.

Here is another article I read that I thought was disgusting http://www.ohio.com/news/50172282.html

 

[barman]

WSTREAK, that's indeed a terrible story out of Ohio.

 

[winningstreak]

it is a shame that people act like this. I have discussions with my classes about race in America. I might be naive but I feel that most people are good and these fringe incidents cause bigger problems and create more prejudice. These prejudices are caused by lack of knowledge as well as life experiences. I feel the media plays up these situations at times and causes more problems.

I do feel there is a double standard with prejudice and racism.

I was going to a Wawa near Chester to tap an ATM so I could go to the casino. Chester, Pa is a predominately Black area. As I was walking in I heard obscene rap blasting out of a Van and looked toward the Van and three teenage Black kids dressed like thugs started saying " Look at this Cracker." It was pretty intimidating especially since there had been a few shooting s in Chester that week.

I thought fuck them. If the same thing had occureed in reverse in My town of Aston that is predominately white. I f three white kids said look at these Spooks. It would be in the news.

 

[Willie99]

sounds like a sad story

at first I was thinking a private club has to kick non-members out to protect their membership, but the day camp paid $ 1,900 for one day a week

maybe the private club wasn't expecting 60 swimmers, and at least one person's handling of the situation was in very poor taste.

60 swimmers would tend to create a disturbance at the pool, regardless of race.

the club should probably close the pool to members for a few hours to let the day campers enjoy the pool

 

[Dave007inVegas]

Look I understand why they might want to keep my wife's people out...From what she tells me, too many of those kids in the pool and soon every other kid's pecker is 25% shorter

But in America, damnit - we overlook those things and expect everyone to be treated with equal respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, length or girth.

Unless they have a pancake face?

 

[barman]

Oh no...pancake face people deserve equal respect under the law as well.

Think of America as a Big Tent

 

[Dave007inVegas]

Oh no...pancake face people deserve equal respect under the law as well.

Think of America as a Big Tent

You need to practice what you preach.

 

[ScottL]

Yep, same place:


Show map of 22 TOMLINSON RD, HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA 19006

www.thevalleyclub.com

"Our Valley Club deplores discrimination in any form, as is evidenced by our multi-ethnic and diverse membership."

YEAH RIGHT -- FOR OVER 50 YEARS NO BLACKS, NO JEWS!

 

[artiesliver]

In the interest of fairness, I should note that in the time since I first hooked on with the long-suffering SheBar (12 1/2 years now) my own berries are at least 25% smaller, due to the time they've spent in that jar on her desk.

I thought maybe the f'cking poodle ate them, thinking they were treats.