History Or Bigotry? A Landlord Hangs ‘White Only’ Sign On Pool
Pre-Civil Rights Movement, “white only” signs dotted the country. Everything from the finest restaurants to not-so-fine diners bragged of their “exclusivity.” We thought that type of bigotry was gone, at least until a landlord in Ohio posted a “white only” sign at her apartment building’s swimming pool.
Jamie Hein of Cincinnati posted the sign after a tenant, Michael Gunn, invited his African-American daughter to swim in the pool. Gunn is suing Hein,
Gunn wrote in his complaint. “The owner, Jamie Hein, accused my daughter of making the pool ‘cloudy’ because she used chemicals in her hair. Days later, she posted a sign on the gate to the pool which reads, ‘Public Swimming Pool, White Only.’”
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Hein, 31, was unapologetic about the racist origins of the sign that she displayed at the entrance to her pool. She said she collects antiques and was given the sign as a gift. She also said that even though the sign seems to indicate that the pool is public, the pool is on her private property and “everybody has to ask before getting in my pool.”
The sign no longer hangs by the pool, but only because it was stolen.
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1:25 pm
This is what happened when a pool tried a similar stunt in Philly a few years back…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/13/valley-club-swim-club-sol_n_575883.html
12:32 pm
While the action is reprehensible, there may be mitigating factors.
The pool it seems is part of an apartment complex, which makes it part of the business. As part of the business it would seem that pool use would be part of the lease in the rental package. This farther would imply that guests of the lease holder would also have legitimate access and use of the pool if/when invited by the lease holder.
If this is the case there are legal grounds on which to take action against the landlord if there is no mention of limitations of pool use in the signed lease.
Paul mentions living in the south are there are entire towns like this, he is correct, on the other hand, since I had no problem with persons of color using my own swimming pool by invitation, the action ended the practice of the neighbors of sending their children over at all hours to use my pool even without permission to be on my property. For me it was a win win.
3:54 am
This woman needs ran outta town. Outta every town in this country. I’m a white American. This sort of crud has NO business in 2011. I welcome all people as my brothers and sisters on this earth. I am color blind. I hope people make this womans life so miserable she moves…
10:46 pm
To make things perfectly clear: I this woman is a hateful bitch and if I lived in that complex and had the means and ability to move out, I would, complete with very explicit posting to the ratings companies about the completely inappropriate behaviour of the landlord.
Having said that, I don’t know how big the “complex” is. And I don’t know what the local laws are. In my subdivision, we have a pool, but we pay HOA dues to use it and we have keys. I’ve *heard* the local police refer to it as public; I’ve also heard the HOA say it’s private. It may exist in a kind of limbo; public because it’s not owned by a particular individual, but private because it’s effectively membership only. I’m not sure.
The reason I bring this up is…(and remember, I really think her actions were loathesome)…if the pool IS considered *PRIVATE PROPERTY* (as in, belongs to her alone), then she’s perfectly within her rights to post whatever the hell she damned well pleases. (Which I can only see happening if the “complex” is like, four houses that have a pool in a courtyard, and even then, only if all the current tenants *happen* to be Caucasian.
If it’s public property (or even like my pool, where it’s in some wierd limbo) then she needs the book thrown at her.
6:40 pm
I think she has EVERY right! Its HER pool!!
6:57 pm
So by your logic, any privately owned property/business has the right to discriminate because they’re privately owned. Looks like someone hasn’t heard of the Civil Rights Act. Shut up before you hurt yourself.
3:45 am
Civil rights has nothing to do with the trespassing on to private property!
2:34 pm
TRESPASSING IS/NEVER WAS THE ISSUE!
Listen up, whittle boy, the father, as a renter, had pool privileges. Renters, regardless if they are renters in an HOA condo-style set-up or regular apartment rental are entitled to use the pool AND bring “a” or whatever number guest is specified by CC&R’s or policy. PERIOD. The ugly bigots stated her reason was because of a “hair chemicals”; there was no mention of trespassing, as in, jumping the fence. Changing the content won’t matter in court when the bigot is sued.
5:16 pm
Would anyone care to bet she is a member of the Tea Party. As a group they are the most racist people I know. I hope her business goes under but it won’t because tea party members will flock there to prop her up.
5:02 pm
Martina, what you are talking about is Ostracism.
Ostracize this racist by organizing the locals to create the ban. Refuse service at all stores, gas stations, public facilities and restaurants. Do not talk to her, except to say, “I am exercising my right to refuse to serve you. Leave this premises immediately. This space is for humans only.” Then if she has not left, continue to sweep her toward the door and just repeat, “Leave now. This space is for humans only.”
This will take some work to organize the citizens, but if enough business owners and other people are outraged, you could force her to drive 40-50 miles for gas and food. And learn what it is like to be despised.
10:17 pm
Problem is, I’d bet almost everyone around her is equally racist. Trust me, towns like this still exist. I live in the South…
3:40 am
Yes Paul, I agree. I also live in the south and have found that black folks are even more racist than white folks are. That’s why I can’t understand why they get so defensive. They can dish it out but they can’t take it. They don’t even acknowledge that they are the biggest problem in society with their gangs and drugs. If you don’t believe me then check out your local prison for yourself. It’s filled with 90% blacks. It’s no wonder racism isn’t worse than it is!
6:25 pm
woah now scott, remember the country we live in. the judicial system is not colorblind and there is so much history that shows “their gangs and drugs” are ours too.
10:31 am
The problem with your idea is that it would make those business owners more guilty than she is of discrimination. What she did was reprehensible in today’s America, but they would be breaking the law, whereas she isn’t.
Here’s why: It’s called the Right of Public Accomodation. In cases in which the patron is not a member of a federally protected class, the question generally turns on whether the business’s refusal of service was arbitrary, or whether the business had a specific interest in refusing service.
You can refuse service to a group of skinheads, for example, if you can argue that there is a legitimate risk of violence in your place of business, but not if it’s because you don’t agree with their racist beliefs.
The woman is a racist, clearly, but nobody with a business that is open to the public has the right to deny her access simply because she is. They would be opening themselves up to lawsuits out the wazzoo.
11:21 am
Indeed, they do have to serve her, but they can do it curtly, and without emotion. Also, they can proceed to give her the worst service imaginable. There is no law saying you have to give “good” service, just that you do have to give them service :p
Waiters/Waitresses could seat her in badly placed seats, almost ignore her, make small mistakes in her order (yes it might cost them a bit, but getting her gone is worth it…)
Trust me, there are a million 100% legal ways to make her miserable. Fun thing is, there’s not a damn thing she can do about it :D
4:44 pm
“Cloudy my well-formed Mediterranean ASS”
BEST. COMMENT. EVAR.
3:16 pm
DUH ? If you stick the sign onto your crummy-ass pool’s fence to prevent non-white folk from using your pool I’d say the question answers itself , no ? Cloudy my well-formed Mediterranean ASS . Does she check white girls’ hair for the tons of product most of THEM use ? Does she put up a sign saying ” check with me EVERYBODY before you use the pool ” ?? I’m betting NO. Makes any decent person embarrassed to be part of her species , doesn’t it ? I am old enough to remember this garbage going on when I was a very little girl and it just MAKES ME SICK to see it again.
I say everybody where she lives her miserable racist life e shuns her .