Here is what I found:
An article by Karen Araiza at nbcphiladelphia.com seemed to confirm the claims of racial discrimination. The kids at Creative Steps Day Camp had (collectively) paid $1,900 for a membership at Valley Swim Club in Philadelphia. When the African American kids from the camp got in the water on their very first day, all of the white kids immediately left the pool. Caucasian club members were overheard making racial comments. According to one of the parents, pool attendants then told the kids that minorities were not allowed at the club and they had to leave. The next day, their membership was suspended.
A later article carried and official statement and rebuttals from members of the swim club. Members insisted that their issue was with overcrowding of the pool; one said she paid for a private swim club and she basically felt that giving memberships to summer camps made it not such a private experience. Maybe it has "nothing to do with race," or maybe she is justifying; maybe she doesn't even realize that she is subtly racist. Whatever the case, it is difficult to justify a statement like the one given by Valley Swim Club President John Duesler: "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club." Sounds like racism to me.
Sign the petition: http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/
Links:
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Pool-Boots-Kids-Who-Might-Change-the-Complexion.html
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Swim-Club-Members-Nothing-to-Do-With-Race.html
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/07/60-black-kids-booted-from-philly-pool-for-being-black-speak-out/
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/9/751578/-Valley-Swim-Club:-Day-Two-%5BACTION-Alert%5D
"Section 1981 Summary," Employment Law Information Network
http://www.elinfonet.com/1981sum.php
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