Jul 10, 2009 10:05 pm US/Central
NAACP Blasts Pa. Swim Club Over Racism
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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At their annual convention Friday, the NAACP denounced the actions of a swim club in Pennsylvania that is being accused of racism, WCBS-TV reported. Leaders said the actions by the club owners take the U.S. back 50 years.
CBS
At their annual convention Friday, the NAACP denounced the actions of a swim club in Pennsylvania that is being accused of racism, WCBS-TV reported. Leaders said the actions by the club owners take the U.S. back 50 years.
"This is also evidence of modern day segregation," said Hilary Shelton, VP for Advocacy of the NAACP. "Here you have a country club that's clearly not integrated."
"It's kind of an overt racism. It's the kind racism that is not as pronounced but is subliminal," said James Rawlings, president of the Greater New Haven chapter of the NAACP.
The situation unfolded June 29 when a group of children from Creative Steps Day Camp in northeast Philadelphia arrived at the Valley Swim Club, WCBS-TV reported. Camp Director Alethea Wright said she had contracted for 65 children to go to club.
After the group arrived, however, Wright said some of the children reporting overhearing members ask why "black kids" were at the pool.
"Some of the members began pulling their children out of the pool and were standing around with their arms folded," Wright said. "Only three members left their children in the pool with us."
Wright said she went to talk to a group of members and heard one woman say she would see to it that her group did not return. The club refunded the group's money without explanation, Wright said.
The board of directors later issued a statement saying having the campers at the facility would "change the complexion of the club."
"I was shocked because I live around there and I didn't know people still thought like that," 12-year-old day camper Marcus Allen said as he fought back tears.
Thursday, the swim club's president called the situation a misunderstanding. President of the board of directors John Duesler said the club simply did not have enough room for all the children, and that student groups from other camps had also been turned away.
"It was a poor choice of words, but it was never my intention to imply anything in terms of racial makeup," said Duesler. "This does not represent out position at the swim club."
Sen. Arlen Specter has issued a statement saying he is looking into the matter.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission will immediately investigate, chairman Stephen A. Glassman said Thursday.
"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."
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