Justice Department Reaches Settlement in Discrimination Case Where Black Youth Were Banned From Swimming Pool
On Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it has reached a settlement with the Valley Swim Club. The Pennsylvania club was accused of
discriminating against black children because of their race in 2009.
The day camp Creative Steps had purchases passes which allowed children to swim at the pool during the summer, but once the black children arrived, they were met with racial slurs, then the swim club refunded the day camp’s money and prohibited the children from returning to the pool.
After the incident, a group of families filed a lawsuit against Valley Swim Club, which prompted the swim club to file for bankruptcy. The club’s property was sold in June 2010 for $1,460,000.
CBS Philly reports:
Now, the Justice Department has revealed that once the administration of the estate and bankruptcy case is closed and after paying costs and fees, the remaining assets from the swim club will be split between the 73 discrimination claimants—a number that could be as much as $1.1 million, or just over $15,000 per person.
“This settlement provides significant opportunity to children who were denied an opportunity based on their skin color,” said JoAnn Edwards, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. “Our hope is that this case serves as prevention for years to come and a reminder that discrimination is illegal, and has no place in Pennsylvania.”
The settlement also provides that $65,000 from the proceeds of the sale of the Valley Club’s property be set aside for the creation of a leadership council that comprises former Valley Club members, Creative Steps counselors, campers and their families.
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After the lawyers are paid they’ll get 15 dollars apiece
That made me laugh
These people who stoped these young people from swimming in the pool, are you afraid of getting the tan that you always wanted. I am sure that these kids took a bath before honoring with their color that faded in your pool water. Aren’t you ashamed yet of what you have done to other people?
This election has racism running rampant. Protect your young and your elderly because a bubble can burst at any time. I stay inside or am riding when I go out and will continue to do so until this war is over.
I just feel bad for all of the kids and any adults who suffered this incident. May the Lord allow them to bear the ignorance they were exposed to and may they learn from the transgressions placed before them. He has already done that but no amount of money is worth the heathenism, especially not $15,000. Full 4-year scholarships at the school of their choice would have be a proper recompense.
A pyrrhic victory. $15,000 for treating our children like they aren’t fit to walk the earth….in 2009????????? No sir!
They weren’t going to get much since the club filed for bankruptcy when they knew they were being sued.
Annie not even saying they should have gotten more money…what amount could compensate for our people having to endure indignities that allegedly ended five decades ago.
GREAT NOW IF I CAN GET A INVESTIGATION INTO MY LIFE IN AMERICA AND A THOROUGH ONE IN THE PROBABLE MURDER OF MY FATHER THAT WAS IN THE AIR FORCE AND MOVED TO RACIST OHIO WHERE THEY ALMOST MURDERED ME AND COMMITTED MANY MANY CRIMES AGAINST ME AN OTHERS. DOUGLAS K. STEWARD IN WASHINGTON DC FOR TRUTH AN JUSTICE FOR ALL NOT JUST SOME!!! 2024877564
I wonder why the Justice Department sent my federal case “around and around” its civil and criminal branches before sending me a letter saying it “could not” review or investigate my case of Copyright Infringement against BET, Paramount Pictures, and Viacom, which was “Unjustifiably”, “Unconstitutionally”, and “Unlawfully” dismissed from 4th Eastern Distrust Court and Appellate Court. Is it because the attorney who represented the crooked Defendants while he was employed by Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz Law Firm began working for the Eric Holder and the Justice Dept. right after my case was sent there to be investigated?
By the way, that attorney who represented the defendants BET, Paramount Pictures, and Viacom was John B. O’keefe, and the judge who “accepted” and signed O’keefe’s unethical and unconstitutional Memorandum of Errors and Lies to dismiss my case “with prejudice” was James R. Spencer, the Black judge appointed by former Pres. Ronald Reagan.
Now justice would have been served if the adjudication of this case would have allowed Creative Steps to be the “Legal Owners” of the now defunct Valley Club. Allow such precedence to occur to send the message out to others with racial overtones in their spirit, their heart, and culture that this type of nonsense will no longer be tolerated in today’s society, without severe repercussion to the perpetrators.
I think it’s awful to discriminate against children. I know how it felt to have the Farm Workers discriminate against my young son after he and I marched for them. I told my son, it doesn’t matter what color your skin is. He and I marched and held up signs and said equality and justice for all. Then, after the march, the kids were invited to hit a pinata. My son and I stood back. Toward the end one lady motioned for my son to come up for a turn. As soon as she tied the blindfold on my son, a Hispanic guy came over and told her to remove it and “put it on one of these kids; look at their big brown eyes!” They removed the blindfold, and my kid ran off crying.” How am I supposed to teach my son to not discriminate when minorities do it too these days? It happens both ways. Just saying.
I know you’re just saying but what’s your point? You should have done something about it’
Sandra you are right, I had an incident in the military my roomate was white from WV I am black from LA where jim crow was the order coming up. So one night I get ready to go downtown and he asked if I mind if he tag along no problem with that. On the way, a small jackal they comes in all shades had nerve enough to tell me he dont like who Iam with. I repectfully told him to kiss my donkey. Color dont make the person its what in the heart.