Philly club leader defends club against racism allegations

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. (AP) — The head of a private suburban Philadelphia club says safety, not racism, was the reason for the cancellation of the memberships of dozens of minority children.

John Duesler spoke to reporters this afternoon at the entrance to The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley.

Duesler says there were too many children for the size of the pool and the available number of lifeguards — and it was “an unsafe situation.” He says officials deeply regret the situation.

Creative Steps had arranged for 65 mostly black and Hispanic children to swim each week, but director Alethea Wright says children reported hearing racial comments shortly after they arrived. She says the camp’s money was refunded a few days later.

The state is investigating the club’s actions.