Suburban Philly swim club accused of kicking out black kids denies racial discrimination

Club: Racism accusations at Pa. pool untrue

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. — A suburban Philadelphia swim club accused of kicking out a group of minority children visiting from the city denies any racial discrimination.

The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley says accusations of racism toward the Creative Steps day camp are untrue. It says it was overcrowded and returned funds to more than one camp.

Creative Steps director Alethea Wright says the camp paid for weekly swim time at the gated club, which is in a village that straddles two townships with overwhelmingly white populations. But she says on June 29 some of the children said they heard people asking what “black kids” were doing there.

The club says any comments that may or may not have been made by members aren’t shared by its board.

Black Olympic gold medalist swimmer Cullen Jones says “hearing about what’s happened to these 65 kids is both disturbing and appalling.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. (AP) — A suburban Philadelphia swim club accused of kicking out a group of minority children visiting from the city denies any racial discrimination.

In a statement posted on its Web site Thursday afternoon, The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley says accusations of racism toward the Creative Steps day camp are untrue.

The statement says the club doesn’t have the capacity to deal with outside groups and returned funds to more than one camp.

Creative Steps director Alethea Wright says the camp paid for weekly swim time. But she says during a trip there June 29 some of the children said they heard people asking what “black kids” were doing at the club.

In its statement, the club calls its membership diverse and says any comments that may or may not have been made by members are not shared by its board.