Philly camp disinvited from suburban pool

PHILADELPHIA, July 8 (UPI) -- Organizers of a summer day camp in inner-city Philadelphia suspect their guest privileges at a suburban swim club were canceled because the children are black.

Alethea White of Creative Steps told Fox29 News she got a telephone call from the board president of the Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley after the camp's first visit. She was given no reason but says she understands what was going on, the TV station reported Tuesday.

"The other members were taking their children out while our children were there swimming," Wright said.

Creative Steps had paid the swim club $1,950 to allow their children to use the pool for 90 minutes each Monday for the summer. Wright said the money was returned.

John Duesler, the president of the club, said the decision was not based on race, adding other camp and daycare groups also were canceled. He said the groups "fundamentally changed the atmosphere at the pool."

But Wright is not convinced, saying the Creative Steps children were well-behaved.

"We were the only minorities there," she said.