Commission penalizes swim club in Pennsylvania racism complaint

[Caliga]

I grew up like five miles from this swim club.  The reason they didn't "market to African-Americans" is because THERE ARE HARDLY ANY BLACK PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA.   

I guess what they should have done is put up posters in West Philly saying "HAY NIGRAS DRIVE 30 MILES TO OUR SWIM CLUB EVEN THO YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY POOL TWO BLOCKS AWAY!!!" 

Commission penalizes swim club in Pennsylvania racism complaint

(CNN) -- The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission issued a finding of probable cause Tuesday that racism was involved in the decision last June by a suburban Philadelphia swim club to revoke privileges of a largely minority day care center.

The commission ordered monetary damages for humiliation and embarrassment and a civil penalty of not more than $50,000.

The decision noted that none of the club's 155 paid members this year was African-American.

Last year, according to the decision, there were "179 paid memberships, none of whom were African American."

In addition, the decision noted that in 2009, the Valley Club "made a concerted effort to expand the geographic range of its membership by engaging in a marketing campaign.... The Respondent efforts were mainly directed at areas with overwhelmingly Caucasian populations.... The Respondent made no effort to direct such marketing efforts at areas with significant African American populations...."

"It's an invitation to sit down with our staff and have the parties settle their differences," said Stephen Glassman, chairman of the commission, of the 33-page decision. "If they don't, it will go on to a public hearing, a trial."

He said the Valley Swim Club has 30 days to appeal.

Joe Tucker, a lawyer for the swim club, said his client will do just that. "We believe this is wrong," he told CNN in a telephone interview.

"I believe the people at the PHRC are very good people, but they were put in a tough position ... If the PHRC would have decided against the children or in favor of the club, they would have been painted with the same unfair and untrue racist brush that the Valley Swim Club was painted with."

The controversy started after the Valley Swim Club revoked swimming privileges for the approximately 65 children -- most of them minorities -- from the Creative Steps day care center after a visit June 29.

Some black and Hispanic children said white club members made racist comments to them during that visit, asking why "black children were there" and raising concerns that "they might steal from us."

The day care center had originally contracted to use the pool during the summer, but the club canceled the agreement and returned the day-care center's $1,950 check without explanation. The club canceled contracts with two other day care centers because of safety and crowding, swim club director John Duesler said.

Those facilities have not protested the club's actions.

The issue was exacerbated when Duesler told two Philadelphia television stations the children had changed "the complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club. The comment brought protesters outside the facility.

Duesler later said that safety and crowding -- not racism -- prompted the cancellation.

As the controversy gained national attention, the swim club asked the day care center to return. Center officials refused and said they would pursue a lawsuit.

[CountDeMoney]

They can't swim anyhow.  Don't know what the big deal is.

[Neil]

They can't swim anyhow.  Don't know what the big deal is.

Center officials refused and said they would pursue a lawsuit.

It's time for them to get paid.

At any rate, they should have known better.  You can never trust a black person.

[Caliga]

They can't swim anyhow.  Don't know what the big deal is.

Because the racidistic white man won't let them learn.

[Martinus]

So, they are being fined because they advertise in middle class suburbia and not in ghettos?

[DontSayBanana]

So, they are being fined because they advertise in middle class suburbia and not in ghettos?

Welcome to what it means to be raciss' in Amerikkka.  If the dazzling urbanites are not the center of attention or being focused on in every aspect of communication, it's raciss'.

I recommending converting the month of March to Hebrew History Month just to twist some tails.

[Caliga]

So, they are being fined because they advertise in middle class suburbia and not in ghettos?

Basically, yeah.

[Eddie Teach]

Apparently the burden of proof lies with the accused racist.

[KRonn]

I grew up like five miles from this swim club.  The reason they didn't "market to African-Americans" is because THERE ARE HARDLY ANY BLACK PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA. 

Well, hopefully an appeal will look at this reality. Because if this kind of thing is the reason for the penalty, then it's just nuts, as you say.  Though it's got to be expensive for the club to go to appeal it, as it would be for any small business/club. So they risk getting railroaded by something like this.

[derspiess]

They can't swim anyhow.  Don't know what the big deal is.

Yeah, that was an eye-opener in my ROTC basic camp when we had water safety training.  Big, muscular football player-types scared to death of the water.

Even more bizarre was the fact that none of the Puerto Ricans could swim.  YOU LIVE ON AN ISLAND, FFS.

[DGuller]

Even more bizarre was the fact that none of the Puerto Ricans could swim.  YOU LIVE ON AN ISLAND, FFS.

Maybe that's why they still live on the island.

[alfred russel]

I don't think the penalties related to the advertising, but to the cut off of privileges to the primarily minority day care center. The article says the club has 155 members, all being white, so I'm guessing it is disproportionately white for the community. With racist comments reported by the children, and the comment about changing the complexion of the pool by its director, the decision may make some sense.

[KRonn]

I don't think the penalties related to the advertising, but to the cut off of privileges to the primarily minority day care center. The article says the club has 155 members, all being white, so I'm guessing it is disproportionately white for the community. With racist comments reported by the children, and the comment about changing the complexion of the pool by its director, the decision may make some sense.

Yeah, there may have been some comments out of line by the owners or members; that's what I was more interested in judgments on. I originally saw it reported that the club said they revoked permission for the kids when they found out there were so many, and didn't feel they had the space for them and the members.

[The Minsky Moment]

So, they are being fined because they advertise in middle class suburbia and not in ghettos?

Basically, yeah.

Basically, no.  Article says otherwise.

They are being fined for kicking out the poor Black and Hispanic kids b/c their members complained that black kids would steal, and the club director was worried about the effect on the "atmosphere" and "complexion" (!!) of the club.

This is a pretty unsurprising result under the circumstances.

[The Minsky Moment]

I originally saw it reported that the club said they revoked permission for the kids when they found out there were so many, and didn't feel they had the space for them and the members.

According to the article, the concerns about crowding were only raised after the fact; at the time the main stated concern was about "complexion."

Moral - do not be surprised when saying asinine things on TV gets you in trouble.