The swim club did discriminate on the basis of race

Photo credit: Colbert/AP

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has found probable cause of racial discrimination at The Valley Club a Huntingdon Valley Philadelphia swim club that asked Creative steps, Inc., a day camp group of mostly Black and Hispanic children on June 29th not to return. The camp had a reservation for its children to swim at the private, mostly white, country club. When the childeren arrived, their money was refunded without explanation and they were asked to leave. The club administrators insist the lifeguards would have been overburdened by the large number of children, many of whom could not swim.

Attorney Brian Mildenberg represents a young Black girl who says she heard a member of The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley ask, "What are all these black kids doing here?" and say, "I am scared they might do something to my child." The Club's President of the Board of Directors, John Duesler, has been quoted as saying so many children would "change the complexion" of the club.

The panel's report also noted the club had a rather different reaction to other large groups that came to the swim club. Reports of the incident touched off nationwide outrage. Media mogul Tyler Perry invited all the children to Walt Disney World and the U.S. Justice Department launched an independent investigation into the discrimination complaints.

The commission ordered the club to pay monetary damages for humiliation and embarrassment and a civil penalty of not more than $50,000.

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