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Thread: Pa. to investigate pool discrimination allegations

  1. #1
    Unregistered Bringthetruth's Avatar
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    Pa. to investigate pool discrimination allegations

    http://www.rr.com/news/news/article/...egations/full/State officials will investigate accusations of racial discrimination against a suburban Philadelphia swim club that allegedly reacted to a visiting group of minority children by asking them not to return.

    The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission will immediately open an investigation into the actions of The Valley Club in the leafy suburb of Huntingdon Valley, chairman Stephen A. Glassman said.

    "The rule of law in Pennsylvania is equal opportunity for all, regardless of race," Glassman said Thursday in a written statement released by his office.

    "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."

    The club maintains that accusations of racial discrimination are false and claims overcrowding from more than one outside camp was the problem.

    The Creative Steps camp in northeast Philadelphia had contracted for the 65 children at the day camp to go each Monday afternoon to The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley, camp director Alethea Wright said Thursday. But shortly after they arrived June 29, she said, some black and Hispanic children reported hearing racial comments.

    "A couple of the children ran down saying, 'Miss Wright, Miss Wright, they're up there saying, "What are those black kids doing here?"'" she said.

    The gated club is on a leafy hillside in a village that straddles two townships with overwhelmingly white populations. It says it has a diverse, multiethnic membership.

    Wright said she went to talk to a group of members and heard one woman say she would see to it that the group, made of up of children in kindergarten through seventh grade, did not return.

    "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."

    Several days later, the club refunded the camp's $1,950 without explanation, said Wright, who added that some parents are "weighing their options" on legal action.

    The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People requested the Human Relations Commission's investigation.

    Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., issued a statement calling the allegations "extremely disturbing" and said he was looking into the matter.

    The United States' highest-profile black swimmer, Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones, said "hearing about what's happened to these 65 kids is both disturbing and appalling."

    Chuck Wielgus, executive director of USA Swimming, the governing body for the U.S. swim team, was stunned at the accusations.

    "This is the sort of thing you'd hear about in 1966, during the height of the civil rights movement, not in 2009, and not in the City of Brotherly Love, of all places," he said.

    Club president John Duesler told Philadelphia television station WTXF that several club members complained because the children "fundamentally changed the atmosphere" at the pool but that the complaints didn't involve race.

    In a statement released on its Web site Thursday afternoon, the club called the allegations of racial discrimination "completely untrue."

    The club said it "deplores discrimination."

    Amy Goldman said she's been a member of the club for two years. She said the pool wasn't particularly crowded and the children from Creative Steps were "well-behaved and respectful."

    She said there had been black members at the club in the past, though she couldn't remember seeing any this year.

    The club appeared closed Thursday afternoon, and the guard station at the entrance was unattended.

    About two dozen protesters, most of them white, held signs in front of the club's locked gates and chanted slogans including, "Jim Crow swims here!"

    Wright rejected the overcrowding explanation, saying the club covers 10 acres with a "nice-sized" pool and a separate pool for younger children. The board, she said, knew that her group included 65 children, and none of them had misbehaved.

    Wright said that the children were upset and that she was looking for a psychologist to speak to them. Some children have asked her whether they are "too dark" to swim in the pool, she said.

    Day camp member Araceli Carvalho, 9, said she was upset when told she wouldn't be allowed to return.

    "I said, 'That's not right,'" she said.

    But when asked if she wants to return now, she said, "I don't want to swim here anymore."

    Wright said Girard College, a boarding school for poor children in first through 12th grades, has offered to host the camp children for the summer.

    ___

    AP Sports Writer Cliff Brunt in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

  2. #2
    Member Save Us's Avatar
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    I used to be the only white guy swimming in the shoshone park pool in North Buffalo.

    I got tired of rocks being thrown at me, my wife and young kids from the parking lot and bushes. My son had his bike tires slashed a few times.

    I still condemn racism.

  3. #3
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    There are two simple ways to fix this.
    1. Make the pool deeper....
    2. Freeze the pool.......

  4. #4
    Member run4it's Avatar
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    3 Reactions:

    1) Racism is alive and well. It happens, all too frequently. It needs to be ended wherever possible...quickly and with harsh consequences at that.

    2) While racism happens, too often false accusations are reported. Such accusations do nothing but weaken any discussion over how real racism can be combatted.

    3) Yes there is reverse racism against whites. It is nowhere near as historically harmful or pervasive as white-on-black racism. In perspective, while still insidious, reverse racism is a footnote within the whole problem.

    Now, feel free to tear each other apart.
    But your being a dick
    ~Wnyresident

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by run4it View Post
    3 Reactions:

    1) Racism is alive and well. It happens, all too frequently. It needs to be ended wherever possible...quickly and with harsh consequences at that.

    2) While racism happens, too often false accusations are reported. Such accusations do nothing but weaken any discussion over how real racism can be combatted.

    3) Yes there is reverse racism against whites. It is nowhere near as historically harmful or pervasive as white-on-black racism. In perspective, while still insidious, reverse racism is a footnote within the whole problem.

    Now, feel free to tear each other apart.
    Run,

    I'm just gonna warn you that Sock is gonna cite well known statistics that most interracial crime is 90 percent black on 10 percent white.

    No tearing here.

  6. #6
    Member Eat My Gun's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by run4it View Post
    3 Reactions:

    1) Racism is alive and well. It happens, all too frequently. It needs to be ended wherever possible...quickly and with harsh consequences at that.

    2) While racism happens, too often false accusations are reported. Such accusations do nothing but weaken any discussion over how real racism can be combatted.

    3) Yes there is reverse racism against whites. It is nowhere near as historically harmful or pervasive as white-on-black racism. In perspective, while still insidious, reverse racism is a footnote within the whole problem.

    Now, feel free to tear each other apart.
    I agree completely with points 1 and 2.

    On point three the first one an 1/2 sentences, up to "historically harmful" I agree with.

    I'm not sure you can quantify how pervasive either form of racism is, as I'd venture to guess racism against blacks is probably over-reported, as you alluded to in point 2. I think racism against whites is likely under-reported as sock puppet's post points out.

    What I find most troubling is that black racism has a tendency to take the form of overt acts of violence yet it doesn't get nearly the same level of condemnation as more subtle forms of racism against blacks receives.


    "I won't live by rules that make no sense to me." - Evan Tanner 1971-2008

    Transfixus sed non Mortuus

  7. #7
    Unregistered Sock Puppet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by run4it View Post
    1) Racism is alive and well. It happens, all too frequently. It needs to be ended wherever possible...quickly and with harsh consequences at that.
    Racism is NOTHING more than affilitating with ones ethnicity. run's double standard is perfectly clear in the above quote. He would never say the proponents of affirmative action should have 'harsh consequences' set upon them. And be assured, AA is not just 'reverse racism' (which implies racism has some sort of direction), it's ACTUAL racial discrimination against white people. This racism is GOOD for blacks. They benefit from racism. All ethnic groups benefit from racism. It's a good thing. It's only bad when the government FORCES races to live in the same communities. This causes conflict between ethnic groups that wouldn't otherwise happen if people had the freedom tom self segregate.
    Quote Originally Posted by run4it View Post
    2) While racism happens, too often false accusations are reported. Such accusations do nothing but weaken any discussion over how real racism can be combatted.
    All could be ceased, if people were allowed to form their own nationalistic communities.

    Quote Originally Posted by run4it View Post
    3) Yes there is reverse racism against whites. It is nowhere near as historically harmful or pervasive as white-on-black racism. In perspective, while still insidious, reverse racism is a footnote within the whole problem.
    The problem is integration. All, and I do mean ALL racial problems end when ethnicities can form their own communities.

    If you want to end racial problems, end mandatory integration and repeal the civil rights act. It's the most fair and moral thing to do for all involved.

  8. #8
    Member FMD's Avatar
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    http://www.ohio.com/news/50172282.html

    Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family

    By Phil Trexler
    Beacon Journal staff writer

    POSTED: 07:44 p.m. EDT, Jul 07, 2009

    Akron police say they aren't ready to call it a hate crime or a gang initiation. If it was a black family against 50 white teens, it would be a hate crime.

    But to Marty Marshall, his wife and two kids, it seems pretty clear.

    It came after a family night of celebrating America and freedom with a fireworks show at Firestone Stadium. Marshall, his family and two friends were gathered outside a friend's home in South Akron.

    Out of nowhere, the six were attacked by dozens of teenage boys, who shouted ''This is our world'' and ''This is a black world'' as they confronted Marshall and his family.

    The Marshalls, who are white, say the crowd of teens who attacked them and two friends June 27 on Girard Street numbered close to 50. The teens were all black.

    ''This was almost like being a terrorist act,'' Marshall said. ''And we allow this to go on in our neighborhoods?''

    They said it started when one teen, without any words or warning, blindsided and assaulted Marshall's friend as he stood outside with the others.

    When Marshall, 39, jumped in, he found himself being attacked by the growing group of teens.

    His daughter, Rachel, 15, who weighs about 90 pounds, tried to come to his rescue. The teens pushed her to the ground.

    His wife, Yvonne, pushed their son, Donald, 14, into bushes to keep him protected.

    ''My thing is,'' Marshall said, ''I didn't want this, but I was in fear for my wife, my kids and my friends. I felt I had to stay out there to protect them, because those guys were just jumping, swinging fists and everything.

    ''I'm lucky. They didn't break my ribs or bruise my ribs. I thank God, they concentrated on my thick head because I do have one. They were trying to take my head off my spine, basically.''

    After several minutes of punches and kicks, the attack ended and the group ran off. The Marshalls' two adult male friends were not seriously hurt.

    ''I don't think I thought at that moment when I tried to jump in,'' Rachel Marshall said. ''But when I was laying on the ground, I was just scared.''

    Marshall was the most seriously injured. He suffered a concussion and multiple bruises to his head and eye. He said he spent five nights in the critical care unit at Akron General Medical Center.

    The construction worker said he now fears for his family's safety, and the thousands of dollars in medical bills he faces without insurance.This is called a hate crime.

    ''I knew I was going to get beat, but not as bad as I did,'' Marshall said. ''But I did it to protect my family. I didn't have a choice. There was no need for this. We should be all getting along. But to me, it seems to be racist.''

    Akron police are investigating. Right now, the case is not being classified as a racial hate crime. There were no other reports of victims assaulted by the group that night.

    The department's gang unit is involved in the investigation, police said.

    ''We don't know if it's a known gang, or just a group of kids,'' police Lt. Rick Edwards said.

    The Marshalls say they fear retaliation at home or when they go outside. They are considering arming themselves, but they're concerned about the possible problems that come with guns.

    For now, they are hoping police can bring them suspects. They believe they can identify several of the attackers.

    ''This makes you think about your freedom,'' Marshall said. ''In all reality, where is your freedom when you have this going on?''

    Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.





    This sounds like a hate crime to me. Top news: 65 black kids are kicked out of a community pool.

    Yet a suburban white family gets the **** kicked out of them and not a peep? Id say the white family triumphs that of the black folks incident. Plus this tells ALL blacks, that when THEY are descriminated against its a 'bad' thing. But when they discriminate against whites, thats OK.
    Willful ignorance is the downfall of every major empire in history.

    "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." - Mao, 1938

  9. #9
    Member FMD's Avatar
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    I emailed the Akron Police Dept to voice my concerns regarding their failure to call it what it is.

    here are the E-Mail addresses to the top brass:

    dschismenos@ci.akron.oh.us; webb@ci.akron.oh.us; mlugenbeal@ci.akron.oh.us; apdwebmaster@ci.akron.oh.us; gmcfarren@sheriff.summitoh.net; dalexander@sheriff.summitoh.net
    Willful ignorance is the downfall of every major empire in history.

    "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." - Mao, 1938

  10. #10
    Member DomesticatedFeminist's Avatar
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    There's black people in akron?
    “Two percent of the people think; three percent of the people think they think; and ninety-five percent of the people would rather die than think.”

  11. #11
    Member DomesticatedFeminist's Avatar
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    oo nevermind it's not akron ny
    “Two percent of the people think; three percent of the people think they think; and ninety-five percent of the people would rather die than think.”

  12. #12
    Member HipKat's Avatar
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    This has been a big discussion on the Peoria board too.
    It's disgusting.
    Let me articulate this for you:
    "I'm not locked in here with them. They're locked in here with me!!"
    HipKat's Blog

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    I actually do believe that a private club should be able to allow, or disallow, whomever they want, based on whatever reasons they want.

  14. #14
    Member HipKat's Avatar
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    From the original article: "The Creative Steps camp had arranged for 65 mostly black and Hispanic children to swim each Monday afternoon at the club this summer."

    It's not that they canceled the plans to let them swim there, it's that they did it by denying them at the gate, instead of using a more tactful approach, like contacting the administrators of this group and explaining to them what their concerns were.
    Let me articulate this for you:
    "I'm not locked in here with them. They're locked in here with me!!"
    HipKat's Blog

  15. #15
    Unregistered Bringthetruth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by HipKat View Post
    From the original article: "The Creative Steps camp had arranged for 65 mostly black and Hispanic children to swim each Monday afternoon at the club this summer."

    It's not that they canceled the plans to let them swim there, it's that they did it by denying them at the gate, instead of using a more tactful approach, like contacting the administrators of this group and explaining to them what their concerns were.

    I find it reall sad when 90% of the post didn't address the original post.

    This is why WNY is the way it is.

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