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2TsK · Jul 9th, 2009, 12:22 AM

WTF, I feel so bad for those kids. What is wrong with those people?

Taralindsey · Jul 9th, 2009, 01:01 AM

this is awful.. i feel so bad for those children.

Baby Boo · Jul 9th, 2009, 07:17 AM

how horrible.. its so sad to see racism is still carried on

print*model · Jul 9th, 2009, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by HauteMama

I would love if this place could be sued out of business, but I thought that Civil Rights laws only applied to places that received federal financial funds. I hope I'm wrong.

I would love to see this place be put out of business as well. The way I see it, those who run the swimming facilitly may call it a "private club" but as long as they are taking money from the public (those who are not in their "club") to use their facility, they are considered a place of public accommodation. In this country, it is illegal for a place of public accommodation to turn someone away for many reasons including the color of their skin.

unluckystars · Jul 9th, 2009, 10:37 AM

A local school has volunteered their pool for the kids

BagAngel · Jul 9th, 2009, 11:02 AM

Oh wow! Can't believe that happened! How horrible!

bagaholic85 · Jul 9th, 2009, 11:06 AM

this story seems so outrageous, im having a hard time believing it. i didnt know situations like this even existed anymore

claireZk · Jul 9th, 2009, 11:51 AM

People never believe me, but Philadelphia is a VERY racist city. It's one of the many reasons I hated living there!

sweetneet · Jul 9th, 2009, 12:03 PM

OMFG. I sort of wish I hadn't read this. I literally feel sick to my stomach now. This is so disheartening. I cannot believe people in this day and age can be so bigoted. The worst part is that the people being turned away were CHILDREN. I would be in tears if I had to see my child being turned away from a pool or some other place simply because of the color of their skin. I wouldn't know what to say to them, how to explain it. I always imagined that when I had kids of my own this kinda of sh*t would be unheard of, but i guess it's not. How sad.

If I was a member of a club or institution that did this, I would immediately cancel my membership and refuse to go there again, even if i was not discriminated against directly. I hope other people do the same, and that this club eventually goes out of business. Shame on them.

bagaholic85 · Jul 9th, 2009, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by claireZk

People never believe me, but Philadelphia is a VERY racist city. It's one of the many reasons I hated living there!

thats so surprising to me. i would think racism would be more prevalent in a small town, not a fairly large city. crazy!

sweetneet · Jul 9th, 2009, 12:17 PM

i found an update on this story, just released today

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/...-New-Pool.html

Campers' "Complexion" No Problem for New Pool
Sen. Arlen Spector looking into accusations of racism

For kids in the summertime, there's nothing better than jumping full-speed into a pool to cool off. So when 65 kids from a Northeast Philadelphia camp were banned from taking a dip at a private swim club because of fears they would "change the complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club, they couldn't understand why.

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. At first there was no explanation, but some of the campers recalled overhearing comments about the color of their skin while at the club.

Then the swim club president John Duesler issued this statement: "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club."

So the staff at Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single parent homes, stepped in and offered their pool.

"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.

"I'm so excited," camp director Alethea Wright exclaimed. There are still a few logistical nuisances -- like insurance -- the organizations have to work out, but it seems the campers will not stay dry for long.

And to sweeten the deal, the owners of Gumdrops & Sprinkles treated the kids to a free day of candy and ice cream making.

The banning has caused so much controversy that 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."

bagaholic85 · Jul 9th, 2009, 12:21 PM

happy ending, and great publicity for girard college and gumdrops & sprinkles. im glad that the state senator is looking to launch a discrimination claim against them too.

claireZk · Jul 9th, 2009, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by bagaholic85

thats so surprising to me. i would think racism would be more prevalent in a small town, not a fairly large city. crazy!

Well, it's sort of different than other cities, because it's surrounded by a lot of *really* rural areas. Inside the city, I think there's a lot of racial tension. It's just a strange mix... idk how else to explain it

unluckystars · Jul 9th, 2009, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by claireZk

Well, it's sort of different than other cities, because it's surrounded by a lot of *really* rural areas. Inside the city, I think there's a lot of racial tension. It's just a strange mix... idk how else to explain it

i'll try... the city is very mixed racially but a lot of neighborhoods are predominatly one nationality. there are sections of the city that are mostly russian, puerto rican etc. There are many areas that are mostly black. then the city is surrounded by mostly white suburbs. unfortunately the city is plagued by high crime areas that people associate with mostly black areas. there is a lot of people with the "the blacks are moving in, neighborhood is going down" attitude. Its a shame that a few bad apples cause people to think this way.

omgsweet · Jul 9th, 2009, 02:30 PM

Hello...have they seen a picture of our president?

Jul 9th, 2009, 12:22 AM	#16
2TsK Member Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 72	WTF, I feel so bad for those kids. What is wrong with those people?
2TsK Member Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 72

Jul 9th, 2009, 01:01 AM	#17
Taralindsey trying to diversify! Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Not tellin' Posts: 6,205	this is awful.. i feel so bad for those children.
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Jul 9th, 2009, 07:17 AM	#18
Baby Boo addicted to TPF Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Middle East Posts: 8,232	how horrible.. its so sad to see racism is still carried on
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Jul 9th, 2009, 10:37 AM	#20
unluckystars Member Joined: Dec 2008 Location: philly Posts: 528	A local school has volunteered their pool for the kids
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Jul 9th, 2009, 11:02 AM	#21
BagAngel Louis Vuitton Addict Joined: Oct 2006 Location: UK Posts: 20,251	Oh wow! Can't believe that happened! How horrible!
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Jul 9th, 2009, 11:06 AM	#22
bagaholic85 Member Joined: Sep 2007 Location: i <3 ny Posts: 5,087	this story seems so outrageous, im having a hard time believing it. i didnt know situations like this even existed anymore

Jul 9th, 2009, 11:51 AM	#23
claireZk Member Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 11,699	People never believe me, but Philadelphia is a VERY racist city. It's one of the many reasons I hated living there!
claireZk Member Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 11,699	__________________ http://loveshimmer.blogspot.com/ When life gives you lemons, just say f@#$ the lemons and bail...

Jul 9th, 2009, 12:03 PM	#24
sweetneet 妊娠してるの！ Joined: Aug 2007 Location: at IKEA ♫ Posts: 5,950	OMFG. I sort of wish I hadn't read this. I literally feel sick to my stomach now. This is so disheartening. I cannot believe people in this day and age can be so bigoted. The worst part is that the people being turned away were CHILDREN. I would be in tears if I had to see my child being turned away from a pool or some other place simply because of the color of their skin. I wouldn't know what to say to them, how to explain it. I always imagined that when I had kids of my own this kinda of sh*t would be unheard of, but i guess it's not. How sad. If I was a member of a club or institution that did this, I would immediately cancel my membership and refuse to go there again, even if i was not discriminated against directly. I hope other people do the same, and that this club eventually goes out of business. Shame on them.
	__________________

Jul 9th, 2009, 12:17 PM	#26
sweetneet 妊娠してるの！ Joined: Aug 2007 Location: at IKEA ♫ Posts: 5,950	i found an update on this story, just released today http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/...-New-Pool.html Campers' "Complexion" No Problem for New Pool Sen. Arlen Spector looking into accusations of racism For kids in the summertime, there's nothing better than jumping full-speed into a pool to cool off. So when 65 kids from a Northeast Philadelphia camp were banned from taking a dip at a private swim club because of fears they would "change the complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club, they couldn't understand why. 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. At first there was no explanation, but some of the campers recalled overhearing comments about the color of their skin while at the club. Then the swim club president John Duesler issued this statement: "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club." So the staff at Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single parent homes, stepped in and offered their pool. "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. "I'm so excited," camp director Alethea Wright exclaimed. There are still a few logistical nuisances -- like insurance -- the organizations have to work out, but it seems the campers will not stay dry for long. And to sweeten the deal, the owners of Gumdrops & Sprinkles treated the kids to a free day of candy and ice cream making. The banning has caused so much controversy that 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."
	__________________

Jul 9th, 2009, 12:21 PM	#27
bagaholic85 Member Joined: Sep 2007 Location: i <3 ny Posts: 5,087	happy ending, and great publicity for girard college and gumdrops & sprinkles. im glad that the state senator is looking to launch a discrimination claim against them too.

Jul 9th, 2009, 02:30 PM	#30
omgsweet omg...cute bag!! Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Scottsdale, Az Posts: 2,970	Hello...have they seen a picture of our president?
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