(NAME-MCE) A "Whites-only" pool in 2009? Take action now

[Aukram Burton]

The story below is not new to the African American community.

There are countless examples within our-story (not his-tory) about  
similar struggles by African Americans in local communities around the  
United States.

One example is Monroe, NC, where in 1957, Robert F. Williams took a  
group of African American children to the Monroe public swimming pool  
in an attempt to open the pool to African Americans. After this  
incident African Americans in Monroe began receiving death threats  
from the Ku Klux Klan, and Williams responded by organizing armed self- 
defense squads of African Americans for their self-defense. Klan  
members were driven out of the Newton section of Monroe by the squads  
of armed African American Williams had organized. In 1961, Williams  
again attempted to integrate the Monroe public swimming pool by  
organizing a picket line which forced the pool to close. This led an  
armed confrontation with local white citizens and the police.

Another example is the history of racial turmoil and tension that  
happened on Carson Beach, in Boston Massachusetts. In 1975, Whites  
attacked six African Americans from South Carolina, who stop to enjoy  
the beach. Forty people were injured during a demonstration that was  
held in response to the event.

After two years of community protest, African American beach-goers  
were escorted onto Carson Beach in South Boston by Metropolitan  
District Commission (MDC), in August 1977. MDC police officers were  
posted on the beach, forming a ring around the African American beach- 
goers. Police officers stationed themselves at the edge of the water  
as African American children played. Police officers lined up near the  
recreation building and conducted boat patrols in the water, while  
White beach-goers stand around, some observing and others shouting  
racial slurs and obscenities.

It seems that history continues to repeat itself in this so called,  
"Post Racial" era.

In order for a people to move forward, they must first know where they  
have come from.

Yours in the struggle,

Aukram





Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009
Subject: A "Whites-only" pool in 2009? Take action now

Two weeks ago outside Philadelphia, sixty-five children from a summer  
camp tried to go swimming at a club their camp had a contract to use.  
Evidently, the club didn't know the kids were largely Black.When the  
campers entered the pool, White parents took their kids out of the  
water, and the swimming club's staff asked the campers to leave. The  
next day, the club told the summer camp that their membership would be  
canceled and that they would refund their money. When asked why, the  
club's leader said the "kids would change the complexion ... and the  
atmosphere of the club."[1]

A "Whites only" pool in 2009 should not be tolerated. The club's  
actions appear to be a violation of section 1981 of the Civil Rights  
Act.[2] Whether or not any laws were violated, a "Whites only" pool  
should be something every American condemns.

Please join us in doing exactly that, and please email your friends  
and family and invite them to do the same. Your signature will also be  
used to call on the Department of Justice to evaluate suing the  
facility under federal law. It takes just a moment to do both, here:

http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/?id=1465-126258

Obama is President but that doesn't mean that suddenly all is fine  
when it comes to race in America. This is a vivid reminder of what we  
know still lies beneath the surface.

We all know stories like this one -- similar incidents play out  
quietly every day in different communities across the country. The  
difference in this case is that folks got caught and there was a  
contract in place that makes for a potentially illegal act.

Standing up now isn't just about making things right for these kids in  
Philadelphia or bringing consequences to this swim club (called the  
Valley Swim Club). It's about creating a climate of accountability  
everywhere. If we can publicly shame the Valley Swim Club and hold  
them accountable for this incident, it will make others think twice  
before engaging in this kind of discrimination.

Please join us in condemning the Valley Swim Club's blatant  
discrimination and calling on the Justice Department to investigate  
whether they violated civil rights laws. And please ask your friends  
and family to do the same.

http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/?id=1465-126258

Thanks and Peace,

-- James, Gabriel, William, Dani and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org  
team July 9th, 2009

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU -- your  
energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large  
corporations that don't share our values, and our tiny staff ensures  
your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

https://secure.colorofchange.org/contribute/?id=1465-126258

References:

1. "'Pool Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion,'" NBC  
Philadelphia, 07-08-09 http://bit.ly/90Zyr

2. "Section 1981 Summary," Employment Law Information Network http://www.elinfonet.com/1981sum.php

More Resources:

"60 Black Kids Booted from Philly Pool For Being Black -- Speak Out,"  
Jill Tubman at Jack and Jill Politics, 07-08-09 http://bit.ly/GkJTs

VIDEO: "Please Don't Change the Complexion of our Pool," This Week in  
Blackness, 07-08-09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saTCMJVYljU

"Swim Club Accused of Discrimination," FOX 29 Philadelphia, 07-08-09 http://bit.ly/7EKGy

"Valley Swim Club: Day Two," Adam B at Daily Kos, 07-08-09 http://bit.ly/qbpSA

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