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
###FC/2009/bfg l:\print\releases\PLBCkickedoutofpool.191