Walking While Black in Racist Clubcorp Community-River Creek, Leesburg, VA
On Feb. 2009 while walking, a police car drove up beside me and my guest, and block us in, while we were walking in a Clubcorp, gated country club community, named River Creek, in Leesburg, VA. The police asked "Were we coming off of service, are we domestic servants?"The police then said that we did not belong in the community, and we were solicitors, loiters. The police insisted upon this, while I continually told her that I actually lived there, and was a member of the Clubcorp's River Creek Country Club. I gave them my full name and addressseveral times. The police then got out of the car, with her hands on her gun, and hip, she walked towards me and my guest, continually speaking in a very harsh and agressive manner. She told us that we were violating various loitering laws, and "did not belong" in the community. At the time we were standing in front of the country club. A neighbor going into the club saw what was going on and came over, and confirmed to the police that I was a residence of the community, yet the Police harrassment continued. My guest and I went intothe Clubcorp country club, and thepolice called for backup and continued the harrassment inside the country club. The staff at Clubcorp joined the police "lynch mob" to continue the harrassmeent against me and my guest. Three Clubcorp staff members surrounded us, blocked us in, and started questioning me, preventiing me from receiving service at the club. I have been a home owner, and member of River Creek Clubcorp for over a decade, so the Clubcorp staff knew me very well, yet they turned against me, as a Black member of the club. Clubcorps's staff turned against me and my guest, to assist the Police with the racial harrassment. My guest and Idecided to leave the Clubcorp River Creek club, butfeared for our safety walking back home. I asked to speak with Clubcorp's management. Clubcorp's staff was very uncooperative, and unsupportive of me and my guest. Clubcorpsupported theracist conduct that thier staff was demonstrating towards me and my guest. I have been a member of this Clubcorp communityfor over ten years. Clubcorp staff told me that "I must have brought it upon myself", and kept asking "What did we do wrong, what did we do to bring this upon ourselves?" Clubcorp'sstaff informed me that theyreleased private membership about me to the police, including my full name, address, and other membership info. My guest and I were overcome with emotional, and physical distressfrom this ordeal.
I am furious, that in this day and time, Blacks are still required to have "Free Blacks Walking Papers" to walk freely in this country, and in my own Clubcorp community. Under no circumstances would we have been subjected to this harrssment by Clubcorp's staffhad we been white. White people roam freely throughout Clubcorp's River Creekcommunity, with no harrssment from Clubcorp staff, or the Loudoun County Police. This is not the first racial descriminating act that I've experenced within River Creek'sClubcorp community.
This time Clubcorphasgone too far, and thier racist practices, must be made public, and must be stopped. The president of Clubcorp is Eric Affeld and he can be reached at 972-243-6191 or 972-243-6151. I have contacted him several times, verbally and in writing. I have recieved no written response. Spread the word, beware of "Walking While Black in Racist Clubcorp River Creek Club-Leesburg, VA.
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