| Yesterday, we reported on the swim club that banned children for not being white. Here's what has happened since then: First, the kids have a new place to swim: [T]he staff at Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single parent homes, stepped in and offered their pool. "We had to help," said Girard College director of Admissions Tamara Leclair. "Every child deserves an incredible summer camp experience." The school already serves 500 campers of its own, but felt they could squeeze in 65 more – especially since the pool is vacant on the day the Creative Steps had originally planned to swim at Valley Swim Club.
Next, Arlen Specter has launched an investigation. In a statement, he said: The allegations against the swim club as they are reported are extremely disturbing. I am reaching out to the parties involved to ascertain the facts. Racial discrimination has no place in America today.
The state is miffed, also, and taking action: The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission will immediately investigate, chairman Stephen A. Glassman said Thursday. Allegedly, this group was denied the use of a pool based on their race," Glassman said. "If the allegations prove to be true, this is illegal discrimination in Pennsylvania.
Yesterday, I couldn't say much more than "appalled" because the idea of harming children (physically, emotionally, in any way) makes me more sad than words can say. This incident also brought up ugly memories which I haven't thought about in years. When I was in college, South Boston had to integrate its schools. A group called Restore Our Alienated Rights (ROAR) was formed to keep black children out of ostensibly white schools. They held big rallies and made the papers, but quietly, groups of them liked to go to the schools, and when the buses arrived, pelt the children with rocks. "Normal" people, myself included, would don helmets and thick coats and we'd help shield the kids from the buses to the buildings. ROAR didn't last long, but it was horrible. You may think this was the 1940's, but it was the '70's. I was so thrilled today to see the new pool location, the governmental action, and even the grassroots work (there are message boards, Facebook pages, and there was a protest at the racist club yesterday afternoon.) It gives me honest hope that SOMEDAY racism, and all other forms of bigotry will die. |
