Closing Arguments: Swimming Pool Discrimination?

It is a PRIVATE POOL. End of Story. I think the state of Pennsylvania has better things to do.

I do agree that this story even being discussed is an example of how discrimination is alive in America. I bet none of you heard about what happened in neighboring Ohio. Here is an exert from the story as posted on ohio.com

"Akron police say they aren't ready to call it a hate crime or a gang initiation.

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."

How many of you heard about this story? Yet every major media is reporting kids getting kicked out of a pool. YES - RACISM is alive and well in America.

Stan, the club set up a contract with the camp for the kids to swim there this summer! They took the camp's money!Is the change of mind by the club, because the kids that showed up to swim had black and brown skin, not white?

This reminds me of the stories my dad told me about how the Mexican-American community was not allowed to use the Municipal Pool in the city of Colton, CA back in the 1920s and 1930s. In fact it only changed after WWII when many men of color returned from service. By the way, it wasn't just the pool; it was also the theater - "Mexicans" could not sit in the center - they were relegated to the side sections. Have things really changed?

Racism is alive and well around Philadelphia. Check out what is going on in the suburbs of Philly - on the Main Line. Lower Merion School District and it's rich, entitled School Board is attempting to bus blacks to 'diversify' their schools. Now they are trying to outspend the plaintiffs in a last ditch effort to win the lawsuit. Disgraceful.

"Standard-issue" racism here.

This is not White American ppls this is Eurpoean/other foreign White ppls don't live surrounding with the diversity ppls alone. Shame on you ppls and grown up. Here is 3 "L's... Learn, Live and Love in what God gave you in everyday life.

Wow !!!! !!! If everyone paid their fees everyone can swim.........They'd be up in arms if their white children were denied access to anything especially a pool !!! Someone should give their kids the same treatment & see if they would accept a bogus excuse like that !!!! It's just sad !!!

It's a PRIVATE club! They can let anyone in and keep anyone out.

The club was aware the camp was coming. The business office of the club had collected the fee of 1900 bucks prior to the camp members attendance. The club knew full well the number of campers. What they didn't know was that the campers were hispanic and African-American. OOPS! I say shame on the owner, shame on the mothers who have left a lasting impression on not only the campers but their own offspring as well. FEAR is the determining factor here. The "club" has shown their true colors and now the community is seeing red.

Seriously, 65 children seems like too many. Makes me wonder the size of the pool. When I was a kid, I recall being in a olympic sized pool with about that many kids. It was chaotic and there was no room to hang on to the side of the pool to rest, which forced me to tread water. I ended up getting sick (vomited) and had to be removed from the pool.

PREJUDICE at it's best, proof is in the pudding.. And who only thought that racial issues was mostly in the deep South??? I saw the crook trying to give an explanation on CNN, with his wife standing by his side, hopefully he did NOT make her stand there next to so the both of them would look STUPID..The complexion would change the atmosphere of the pool(would the H2O have changed colors or what???? BUT then again he is only practicing what the DUMMY was taught from WHOEVER raised him.. SORRY NO EXCUSES, BUT BE READY TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF TO GOD ON YOUR LAST DAY ON EARTH, YOU WILL HAVE A LOT TO ANSWER FOR...................... bye.........

TO SONNY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Apparently the moron only noticed the color of the check for $1900+, apparently he was willingly to accept the $$$$ NOT knowing the color of the people that would be in attendance, yet he was ready and willing to deposit the check until the kids showed up to swim, then changed his mind, BUT probably he was not the only member that made the decision, they probably immediately called for a quick meeting in a backroom and that was their decision. BUT guess what, HE WHO LAUGHS LAST, LAUGHS "BEST" ***********

Why are we even debating such an obvious case of discrimination once again? CutiePie and Sean are just people in denial who want to convince themselves and others that racism is no longer a problem. But Lakeisha Jones is the the worst example presented to justify such behavior; if she is even real. An obvious attempt to make it appear that a black person is not offended and in fact supports this type of behavior.

Lets be honest, they were concerned about color. This is another example of some people being inclined to believe they are superior simply because of the color of their skin. We still have a lot of progress to make in this country as ignorance is still bliss.

Why is it ok for B.E.T, the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund and affirmative action...(I could go on for days) to all have their place in society but when a private club turns away minorities it causes a fuss? Their reason for turning away these people does not matter they are a private club with a membership and the freedom to do as they please.

I think the Negros should punish the whites by using som initative and building their own pool. That'd show 'em. They might even open a couple of their own cafes while they're at it.

I was a competitive swimmer from a very young age. My family has belonged to several country clubs and private pool establishments. I don't believe the club's statement for one minute. A club of that kind might be willing to accept a few kids of color whose families they know (who fit the right socioeconomic mold) but a group of unknown black and hispanic kids...never. The club is lying about overcrowding...if that was the problem the lifeguards and staff members would have simply asked some of the children to sit out for awhile. The club happily accepted the campers money...the color green is never a problem...but when those black and brown faces arrived it was a different story.

For once I would like to see white people face up to their bias. If you are going to be a racist have the guts not to hide behind lies.

I am just a small town Mom who is caucasion,I have 2 caucasion boys and a magical dark skinned Latin girl. The boys have no clue what people mean when they say their sister is different. They say, "she stays tan all the time." Wow, wouldn't it be nice if adults could learn from the kids, instead of the kids learning from cold hearted adults. The law should stand in favor of the camp, the dues were paid and the club knew when they took the money the clients of the camp would be swimming in the pool. I agree with a comment above, they need to open pool first come first serve and allow in their destined number of swimmers reguardless of color. If the dues are paid, that pool is yours too.

If anyone believes the club's explanation obviously live a very sheltered life and choose to turn a blind eye. The swim club have allowed larger groups before and it was not an issue then. A member said there was no isssues with the kids but for the white member taking their kids out of the pool and saying they were scare the minority kids might hurt their kids...come on. They paid their dues ($1950) and since their were no incidence at the pool it is obvious why their membership was revoked. You don't have to be a minority to see that.

@ patti | Jul 10, 2009 3:26:32 AM

Blacks didn't segregate themselves. The examples you listed (BET Awards, Black Coaches League, Black Colleges) all spawned from the fact that Blacks were excluded/under represented by the more 'mainstream' version. These, and other, examples are actually examples of Black inclusion, not white exclusion. Please stop your lean towards a "reverse discrimination" argument.

Check the history of this country...