Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus expresses outrage at minority children kicked out of suburban swim club pool

HARRISBURG, July 9 -- Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus are expressing outrage after learning that more than 60 minority children from Creative Steps Day Camp, a summer camp in Northeast Philadelphia, were turned away from a private swim club in Huntingdon Valley that their parents had already paid for them to use.

According to news reports, the campers were turned away from the pool because of their race.

Horace Gibson, a parent of one of the children from the camp, e-mailed the news station and said, "When the minority children got in the pool, all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool." He added, "The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately."

Dymire Baylor, one of the campers, said he overheard a woman ask, "What are all these black kids doing here?" when he and his friends showed up.

PLBC chairman, state Rep. Ronald G. Waters, D-Delaware/Phila., described the incident as a human rights violation.

"It is hard to believe that this kind of discrimination is still happening in 2009," he said. "We live in a democracy and I am appalled that authorities at the pool would act in such an unprofessional manner to the point where they would kick children out based on the color of their skin. The owners of this establishment placed their personal prejudices before their professional duties.”

News reports say the Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1,900 to The Valley Swim Club, a private club that advertises open membership. However, the day after the campers were asked to leave the pool, the club told the camp director that the camp's membership was being suspended and their money would be refunded.

Parents are awaiting an apology from the camp while Waters personally looks into the matter.

Waters expressed his disappointment with the racial battles this country still faces and said, "Of all the places in the nation, it is quite ironic that it happened in the City of Brotherly Love."

Residents can view more on this story online at: nbcphiladelphia.com
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Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus says "Enough is Enough"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Ronald G. WatersD-Phila./Delaware www.pahouse.com/Waters



HARRISBURG, June 1 – The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus issued the following statement today in response to the recent case of Bonnie Sweeten, a Bucks County woman who claimed she and her daughter were kidnapped by two black males, a claim that turned out to be a hoax:

"It is appalling that, time and time again, supposed crimes that have turned out to be hoaxes have involved allegations against black men. From Susan Smith to Bonnie Sweeten and other instances in between, black men have been the subject of grandiose fabricated tales of crimes, which have been proven to have never occurred. One can only surmise that those individuals have pointed fingers toward black men to bolster the believability of their tales, preying on the institutionalized racism and stereotypes that have permeated our culture and society. It is time for this to end."

PLBC chairman, state Rep. Ronald Waters, D-Delaware/Phila., added this statement: “This is another assault on the black community. How many more times will individuals point accusatory fingers toward black men to support their lies? All Pennsylvanians must stand together to reject this sort of outright racism. I call on all Pennsylvanians – and Americans – to abandon the racist stereotypes that stifle our progress and inhibit our growth as a unified nation. At a time when the economy is enduring an economic a devastating downturn, we should be focusing our attention on healing our nation, uniting one another and doing all that is in our power to help lift our country up.”

State Representative Jewell Williams, another member of the PLBC and a former police officer, added this statement: "Fabricated racial stereotyping makes it more difficult for law enforcement to find the real culprit. And it’s dangerous when citizens reinforce ignorant stereotypes with these types of false claims. Even though the nation has just elected its first black president, unfortunate incidents like these prove we are still short of achieving a united and equal nation."

The PLBC statement concludes: "The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus strongly condemns such inequality and every false allegation of a crime against any person. As a caucus of legislators, we are committed to continuing the work of breaking down stereotypes and the institutionalized racism that encourages this type of irresponsible and unethical behavior."

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Chairman's Welcome

Thank you for visiting the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus' blog site. The purpose of our blog is to create another line of communication that allows constituents to voice their concerns, make comments, and ask questions directly to the members themselves. Here, you also have the opportunity to get updated on the PLBC's current events, legislative initiatives, and policy agendas. We have created this site with you in mind, so your feedback is invaluable.

Again, thank you for visiting our blog and welcome to our site. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Rep. Ronald G. Waters, Chairman
Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus