Mom Launches Petition After She Says She Was Discriminated Against At Delco Pool Club

A Delaware County swim club is being accused of racism after a party for a 16-year-old black girl was shut down by club officials when members complained.

Nakia “Kay” Dawkins has launched an online petition to say that racism will not be tolerated.

Dawkins' petition is just shy of its 10,000 signature goal after being launched last week.

In her plea to the public, Dawkins, who is black, claims while celebrating her daughter's 16th birthday at the club on Aug. 4, party goers were treated differently than white members at the club.

Patch reached out to the Drexel Swim Club to learn more about the alleged incident. When asked for details on what happened, the club declined to comment.

Dawkins writes on the Change.org petition website that the group of people there for the party followed the rules and did what was asked of them, but were told to leave eventually.

The petition claims she paid to book the pool for her daughter's party, but was told a DJ was not allowed despite seeing DJs at other pool events.

On the petition website, she said she tried to accommodate all the recommendations and rules of the club, which included turning down the music when asked and keeping music explicit free.

"Then they began yelling at us saying their members are leaving because we are here and it was our fault," Dawkins writes. "They called the cops shut our music off and told us to leave."

Dawkins, who wrote on the petition that her membership was revoked following the incident, said the incident left children crying and asking why they weren't allowed to be at the club.

"They need to be investigated and held accountable for their actions," she wrote. "My child has to live with this horrible experience the rest of her life!"

Image via UASG – Humphreys, Flickr Commons