| |
|
| |
| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
| |
| HOUSE RESOLUTION |
|
| |
| |
| INTRODUCED BY WATERS, SEIP, COHEN, MURPHY, GRUCELA, QUINN, DePASQUALE, YOUNGBLOOD, KIRKLAND, SHAPIRO, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, HOUGHTON, JOSEPHS, BRENNAN, PARKER, DALEY, BRIGGS, MYERS, BEYER, M. O'BRIEN, STABACK, BISHOP, DeWEESE, STEVENSON, FREEMAN, D. COSTA, BUXTON, WATSON, MARKOSEK, MANDERINO, SIPTROTH, BROWN, SAYLOR, GOODMAN, SWANGER, GEORGE, KORTZ, MAHONEY AND BOYD, OCTOBER 6, 2009 |
| |
| |
| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 6, 2009 |
| |
| |
| |
| A RESOLUTION |
| |
1 | Condemning racial intolerance and discrimination. |
2 | WHEREAS, All people in the United States of America, |
3 | regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality or social or economic |
4 | condition have the right to personal and material well-being; |
5 | and |
6 | WHEREAS, Discrimination and racial intolerance is contrary to |
7 | America's democratic principles of equality and the right of all |
8 | people to be treated fairly; and |
9 | WHEREAS, The failure to act or speak out to prevent racial |
10 | discrimination can be considered an act of racial discrimination |
11 | in itself; and |
12 | WHEREAS, Acts of racial discrimination and intolerance can |
13 | occur when a person's failure to act can be considered a |
14 | distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based solely |
15 | on race, ethnicity, nationality and social or economic condition |
|
1 | that denies an individual a right or privilege that is enjoyed |
2 | by the majority; and |
3 | WHEREAS, The alleged systemic racism apparent in the actions |
4 | of the Valley Swim Club management reinforces the social and |
5 | economic disadvantages experienced by children of color and |
6 | children of low economic means; and |
7 | WHEREAS, On June 29, 2009, African-American and Latino |
8 | children from the Creative Steps Day Camp made their first visit |
9 | to the Valley Swim Club, however, the campers were turned away |
10 | and asked not to return; and |
11 | WHEREAS, The Creative Steps Day Camp, located in |
12 | Philadelphia, had entered into a contract with the Valley Swim |
13 | Club, a private swim club located in Huntingdon Valley, and paid |
14 | a fee of $1,950 to have campers swim at the ten-acre complex; |
15 | and |
16 | WHEREAS, The Valley Swim Club suspended the camp's membership |
17 | and revoked the camp's privileges June 30, 2009; and |
18 | WHEREAS, The President of the Valley Swim Club stated that |
19 | the campers were turned away because, "There was concern that a |
20 | lot of kids would change the complexion ... and the atmosphere |
21 | of the club"; and |
22 | WHEREAS, The campers felt discriminated against because of |
23 | the color of their skin and were allegedly told by pool |
24 | attendants that minorities were not allowed at the club; and |
25 | WHEREAS, A study by researchers affiliated with the Iowa |
26 | State University concluded, "kids who experience discrimination, |
27 | or see it happening to their parents or other family members, |
28 | are at a higher risk for depression," including sleeping |
29 | disorders, feeling sad, worthless, listless or suicidal; and |
30 | WHEREAS, At the World Conference Against Racism, Racial |
|
1 | Discrimination and Related Intolerance, a spokesperson for The |
2 | United Nations Children's Fund opined that the pervasive evils |
3 | of racism, discrimination and intolerance compromise the right |
4 | of children to survive, to develop and to reach their fullest |
5 | potential"; and |
6 | WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's children are the force for positive |
7 | social and cultural change that will promote economic well- |
8 | being; and |
9 | WHEREAS, The House of Representatives holds that racist |
10 | behavior, discrimination and intolerance are incompatible with |
11 | America's democratic philosophy and rule of law; therefore be it |
12 | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives unequivocally |
13 | condemn and denounce all forms of racism, racial discrimination |
14 | and related intolerance; and be it further |
15 | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express profound |
16 | indignation and regret that racial intolerance still occurs in |
17 | this Commonwealth and urge the Human Relations Commission to |
18 | investigate allegations of discrimination wherever they may |
19 | surface, including the Valley Swim Club incident, and continue |
20 | to ensure equality and fair treatment for all individuals. |
|