Jul 11, 2009 6:41 am US/Eastern
NAACP Blasts Philly Club Over Alleged Racism
Meeting In NYC For 100th Anniversary, Organization Calls Incident Subliminal Racism & "Modern Day Segregation"
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The Valley Swim Club, a private club outside Philadelphia, has been accused of racism after denying 65 minority campers entry.
CBS
The NAACP said it takes our country back 50 years.
The claims of racism against a group of children are causing nationwide outrage.
CBS 2 HD went to the Hilton hotel in Midtown on Friday night where the NAACP was about to start their annual convention.
There were tears and sadness on a summer day after children were denied entry to a pool because of their skin color.
"I'm still shocked," camper Marcus Allen said.
And who can blame him? He and 65 other day campers were supposed to have access to Philadelphia's private Valley Swim Club, but when they arrived last month the welcome mat was snatched away in a racial way by concerned white parents.
"Saying what are all these black kids doing here? And that she was afraid that we might try to do something to her child," one camper said of the parents' reaction.
The camp claims the club told it that the presence of the black and Hispanic children would change the complexion of the pool.
And that sparked protests from parents, threats of legal action and an apology by the swim club.
"It was a poor choice of words and I will admit that. It was never my intention to imply anything in terms of racial makeup," swim club president Dr. John Duesler said.
But the NAACP, in New York City for its 100th anniversary, called the situation disgusting and sad.
"This is also evidence of modern day segregation. Here you have a country club that's clearly not integrated," said Hilary Shelton, VP for Advocacy of the NAACP.
Although the check for nearly $2,000 was returned to the day camp, without explanation by the way, NAACP members say what happened is a stain on America's fabric.
"It's kind of an overt racism. It's the kind racism that is not as pronounced but is subliminal," said James Rawlings, president of the Greater New Haven chapter of the NAACP.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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