The Valley Swim Club, a Philadelphia swim club advertising “open membership” refused entry to a group of African-American day campers who had paid the required $1900 membership fees.

“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.

Didn’t Rush Limbaugh alert the club that we have an African-American president and thus all racism magically disappeared.   What freakin year is this….1950?!  What is also really sad is that all the white children are alleged to have exited the pool immediately, no questions asked, as if it were perfectly normal not to be in a pool with black children.  So much for the “post-racial society.”  The Valley Swim Club’s written response to media inquiries is as follows:

“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.

It’s amazing that the drafter of this statement surmised before its release that it is a perfectly legitimate and reasonable statement that will be accepted by the vast majority of people reading it.  For those who are inclined to give the club the benefit of the doubt please ask this question; why would the president of the club use the word “complexion” in this context?  The only way the sentence phrasing makes sense is if you are using the word to deliberately send a bigoted message.  And no you do not get a pass if you voted for Obama, help with Martin Luther King Day events, live in Pennsylvania (or North instead of the stereotypical South), and participate in the Organizing for America program.  The “some of my best friends are black” defense does not apply.  Unbelievable.

This calls for community activism through churches, local businesses, civil rights groups, and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, Democrat, who represents this district (Montgomery Alabama County) in Congress. Philadelphians also need to contact the Attorney General Tom Corbett  (Republican) to request an investigation as well as go out and picket this club.  ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS!  I know parents will not want to send their children to such a place but it also should not be allowed to exist in the community. 

If  The Valley Club has received any federal or state funding then the Attorney General has cause to investigate for civil rights violations.  If this is a private club then the day camp probably has a cause action for breach of contract and possibly intentional infliction of  emotional distress (much harder case) which they should ABSOLUTELY pursue.  Further, if the club falls under the public accommodations act then it is not allowed to discriminate even if it claims to be a private club.   Private is legally defined by the Act.  Also, it appears that the club may have charged the minority children more than it charged the non-minority children signed up for the camp.  Non-minority kids are charged about $30 for a summer membership at the club with unlimited use of the facilities Mon-Thurs.  However, the minority children were charged the same price per child for restricted use one day a week, Mondays, for a mere 90 minutes.  Any Pennsylvania barred lawyers out there?

VIDEO– http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/…

 The Club’s Website  … 22 Tomlinson Road,  Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006       215-947-0700    info@thevalleyclub.com

The demographics of the area:

Total Population: 20408

White: 19295
Black: 142
Asian: 855
Pacific Islander:  
Native American: 10
Two or More: 67
Other: 39

Office of Attorney General
Civil Rights Enforcement Section
14th Floor, Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 787-0822

Since this story broke another private pool at Girard College has offered its pool for the children to swim.  The irony of this development is that Martin Luther King protested against a segregated Girard college set up by Stephen Girard in the 60′s.  Even though the protest failed the private boarding school now has a predominately minority student population.  Progress.  Sen. Arlen Specter also plans to launch an investigation of the discrimination claim.  Feel free to continue putting the pressure on Pennsylvania public officials.  This cannot be tolerated.

UPDATE:  Philadelphia community organizer Marc Stier, founder of the Facebook group Ready To Protest Racial Discrimination at the Valley Swim Club has scheduled a protest for today at 5:30pm at the Valley Swim Club.

What is there to say to decent people about the existence of blatant racism in this day and age? It’s grossly immoral. It’s enormously ignorant. It’s a throwback to days most of us hoped were long gone.

And it can’t be allowed to stand without legal action and protest. Not to stand up and say that this sort of behavior is beyond the pale, is to allow it, and the attitudes behind it, to survive one more day.

So, an initial protest against the club will take place today at 5:30 pm. Come to the club, 22 Tomlinson Road, Huntingdon Valley 19006-4219.

UPDATE  x2:  The Valley  Swim Club is being investigated.  Kudos to the NAACP for jumping on top of the situation.

HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION LAUNCHES RACIAL DISCRIMINATION INVESTIGATION
NAACP requests investigation following Montgomery County swimming pool incident

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Human Relations CommissionChairperson Stephen A. Glassman announced today that the commission would launch an immediate investigation into allegations of racial discrimination against the Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County, after a recent incident in which African-American and Hispanic day campers were asked to leave the club’s pool.

“The rule of law in Pennsylvania is equal opportunity for all, regardless of race,” Glassman said.  ”Based on the NAACP’s request and public outcry following media reports, we will expedite an investigation to determine whether there has been illegal discrimination.”

The commission has legal authority to investigate allegations of illegal discrimination, whether or not a complaint has been filed.

“Allegedly, this group was denied the use of a pool based on their race,” Glassman said. “If the allegations prove to be true, this is illegal discrimination in Pennsylvania.”

“Protests and public outcry won’t do much to help these families,” said State NAACP President J. Whyatt Mondesire, who also serves on the commission. “But the Human Relations Commission can determine the facts and hold people accountable for any illegal acts of discrimination.  The law simply does not allow discrimination based on race.”

UPDATE x3:  The founder of the day camp Creative Steps Althea Wright gave the following factoid:

Twelve days before the Creative Steps campers were shown the door, Wright said The Valley Club hosted four sixth-grade classes from Rydal East Elementary School in Abington. Only two of the nearly 80 kids were minorities. One of them was Wright’s 11-year-old son, Marcus.

A wonderful time was had by all.

Amy Goldman is member of Valley Swim Club who was at the pool on the day:

Amy Goldman, a member who was at the pool June 29 when more than 60 Creative Steps Day Campers came, said that she thought the club was inclusive to everybody.

“The kids were well-behaved and have every right to be here,” she said. “It’s shameful.”

… The [Club's] statement read that the facility is not equipped to handle a group of that size.

But Goldman saw it differently.

“The pool was half-empty that day,” she said last night outside the club’s gate as a line of protesters chanted and raised signs.

UPDATE  x4:  Philadelphia community organizer Marc Stier will lead another protest on Saturday, July 11, at 12:00 noon at 22 Tomlinson Road in Huntingdon Valley.

UPDATE  x5:  Some updates regarding the situation.   The Valley Swim Club all of sudden found room for the children and invited them to return to the pool.  An offer that was rightly and promptly rejected by Creative Steps.

“The children are permanently scarred,” Alethea Wright, executive director of Creative Steps Inc., said in a news conference yesterday at the camp’s headquarters in the Oxford Circle section….

The new lawsuit is to be filed this month, attorneys said. About 45 families, along with the day camp itself, are to be plaintiffs in the discrimination and breach-of-contract case.

“This has nothing to do with safety,” attorney Gabriel Levin said. “It has to do with the color of their skin.”

Before a camp trip to a gymnastics event in Huntingdon Valley yesterday, several of the children who made the June 29 trip to Valley Club’s pool expressed little desire to return.

“I don’t want to go back,” Creative Steps camper Jabriel Brown, 12, said yesterday. “I don’t want to get treated the same.”

Dymir Baylor, 14, who said he heard the racially oriented comments himself during the trip to Valley Club, was similarly inclined.

“I’m afraid if we go back, we’ll get put in the same situation,” Baylor said.

One of the members of the club who shunned the minority children was one of the day camper’s math teacher. Unbelievable!

Now, Duesler may be a decent guy – he must have known the campers were minorities when he gave them access to the club in the first place. But he obviously has a problem with language. I don’t know anybody who uses the words complexion and atmosphere to describe safety concerns.
And I don’t know of any children who would want to go back to a club at which they’d been visibly shunned, as happened to camper Jabriel Brown on June 29, the children’s first day at the pool.

Brown said he felt the tension that afternoon. And he heard the comments. That’s why he was so relieved to see a member with a familiar face – a teacher from his school, Carnell Elementary.

“I tried to say hello, but she just gave me a [gesture] like, ‘Whatever,’ ” Brown said.

“It made me feel bad,” the 12-year-old said, “because she used to be my math teacher.”

When his own teacher turns away from him, can you blame a child for not wanting to return?

See full story by Annette John-Hall here:

Legal update…the line of justice marches on.  According to the Associated Press:

A lawyer representing a Philadelphia day camp says to accept an offer to return to a suburban swim club, the club’s entire board must resign.

Attorney Michael Kuldiner represents the day camp, Creative Steps, and the families of majority of the children who swam at the The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley on June 29. He says in addition to the board members stepping down, the club should expel those members who used bigoted language that day.

Kuldiner says he expects to file a lawsuit within a week.

Sign the Color of Change petition and join 50,000+ other Americans in urging the USDOJ to investigate.  Keep up the pressure.

UPDATE  x6:  The Valley Swim Club has decided to play the sympathy card.  Duesler gave the following statement yesterday.

“Our pool could not handle a lawsuit. We don’t have the money. We’re just a small club. We’re volunteers,” said Bernice Duesler, the swim club director’s wife. “I hope we can teach our children a lesson — that you should admit errors. We should have done things differently. And if there are differences, we can overcome them.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer seems to agree.  See full article here.

Attorneys, club members, and tax records indicated that a pair of federal-court lawsuits – one filed, one promised – could cost the club more money than it has and possibly leave board members liable for civil-rights verdicts.

“The only asset we have is the land, which housing developers have been trying to buy for years,” said Bonnie Bacich, a Valley Club member for 30 years.

Bigotry and hatred costs…and right here is where you start paying. 

Think of those children who will be scarred for life because of the “atmosphere” tolerated and promoted by members of this club.  Explain to those same children how at age 6 and 8 they will be able to recite similar experiences to those of their ancestors who were subjected to the extreme ravages of racism in the 50s and 60s.  Therefore, I ask that you please forgive me if I am not bothered that you may have to close the doors of your “exclusive” club that appears to be hostile to anyone that does not fit into your stepford world.  I will suggest, however,  scheduling a settlement conference toot sweet! 

UPDATE  x7:  In an effort to provide the children with a positive experience to counteract the unconscionable treatment they received from the Valley Swim Club, Tyler Perry is sending the 65 children to Disney World all expenses paid.  Tyler Perry is most known for his notable character “Madea” as well as such films as “Why Did I Get Married?,”  “Diary of A Mad Black Woman,” all the “Madea” movies, and his latest movie yet to be released film “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.”  Lets make sure we go out and support him when his latest creation hits the theatres. 

Way to give back Mr. Perry!!! Mucho Kudos! 

The following statements were given by Mr. Perry and Ms. Althea Wright of Creative Steps:

“This made me so angry,” Perry said on his website. “This is awful, and for anyone that has grown up in the inner-city, you know that one small act of kindness can change your life.”

“I am ecstatic for the children,” said Althea Wright, the day care’s director, who received Perry’s generous offer last Friday.

Adds Perry, “I want them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them.”

Creative Steps is pursuing a federal civil rights law suit against the swimming club.

See Mr. Perry’s full statement here. 

DOJ is still investigating.