Justice Department Sues Pa. Swim Club, Charging Race Bias

[Purveyor]

The Justice Department accused a suburban Philadelphia swim club of race bias in a lawsuit filed Wednesday, six months after the club barred a group of mostly black day campers from their pool.

The civil-rights suit charges that the Valley Club of Huntingdon Valley engaged in a pattern of racial discrimination in canceling its $1,950, eight-week contract with the Philadelphia-based Creative Steps program after the children's first visit.

"I'm sorry that it's come to this. I suggested so many ways (to club officials) that this could be resolved," said Alethea Wright, the camp's founder and chief operating officer. "I am so glad that forces are united to make sure that this, never ever happens again."

Club officials have said race had nothing to do with the ouster of the mostly black and Hispanic children from Philadelphia last June. They say there were too many children for the lifeguards on duty, and that many of the 65 campers couldn't swim.

The lawsuit seeks to bar the swim club, or any successor clubs, from continuing such conduct.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/01/13/national/a135727S15.DTL#ixzz0cXd2dbzv

[JBoy]

1. Hah! Looks like the complexion of the club changed after all.

Their bank balance went from black to red.

All ur pool r belong 2 us.

[Number23]

2. Wow

"However, the Valley Club filed for bankruptcy amid the uproar over the camp ban, and the 10-acre parcel is currently for sale, according to the club's bankruptcy lawyer, Michael Cibik. The land, listed for $2 million, will likely be used for residential housing, he said."

My heart weeps...