Judge Penalizes Philly Swim Club That Turned Away Black Kids

UPDATE: 9/23/09: We're not surprised to find out that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has found that racism was behind the decision last June by suburban Philly swim club to turn away Black kids who only wanted to go swimming on a hot summer day.

According to CNN, the commission has ordered monetary damages for humiliation and embarrassment and a civil penalty of no more than $50,000.

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

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Day Care: Rejects Invitation to Return to Pool

UPDATE: 7/14/09: Although John Duesler, President of the Valley Swim Club, said safety and crowding not racism,  prompted contract cancellation between his club and Creative Steps Day Camp, its coordinator Althea Wright rejected his invitation to return to the pool. Wright says the pool was not overcrowded and her children, mostly Black and Hispanic, were "emotionally damaged" bu the incident. The children even claimed white children at the pool made racist remarks towards them. "The children's best interests are not being served," lawyer Carolyn Nichols, attorney for the day care said. "Simple lip service does not amount to change." The the state Human Relations Commission has subpoenaed the club for a fact-finding investigation—SG

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Swim Club President: "It was a safety issue."

UPDATE: 7/11/09: John Duesler, President of the Valley Swim Club, denies charges of racism from the Creative Steps Day Camp, according to CNN.com. "It was never our intention to offend anyone," says Duesler. "This thing has been blown out of proportion. It was a safety issue." The club claims that they underestimated the number of children who would participate in the swim day and were short staffed on lifeguards.

"He knows what happened at the pool that day," Alethea Wright, Director at the Creative Steps Day Camp, told CNN in a telephone interview. "I was embarrassed and humiliated. I know what happened; the members know what happened and a higher power knows what happened." There is however good news for the children, who only wanted to enjoy some sun and fun. Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school, has offered the camp the use of its facilities this summer.—QS

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UPDATE: 7/9/09: The kids at the Creative Steps Day Camp in Philadelphia were looking forward to a day of swimming at the Valley Swim Club, but when they arrived at the private swim club, they were met with less than enthusiastic welcome. Once the more than 60 mostly African-American group arrived, the parents of the White kids began to complain, supposedly asking why are these Black kids here and had a pool attendant tell the children the club did not allow minorities, according to NBCPhiladelphia.com. The next day, the camp's membership (paid in full prior to their arrival) had been suspended and camp officials were told that the more than $1,900 would not be refunded. John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement, "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion ... and the atmosphere of the club."

Cullen Jones, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist and a member of the US National Swim Team issued the following statement in response to the allegations: "The acts of blatant racism shown towards the young kids with Creative Steps Day Camp in Philadelphia have no place in America and should not be tolerated by anyone. As a member of the USA Swimming's National Team and an African-American in the sport of swimming, hearing about what's happened to these 65 kids is both disturbing and appalling. I work hard everyday through my efforts with USA Swimming Foundation and Make A Splash to increase the exposure for as well as enhance the number of African-American and Hispanic young people entering the sport of swimming, not just because it's a great sport, but because learning to swim and understanding the importance of being safe in and around the water are life-saving skills that no one should be denied."—WLW