Democratic Senator Criticized for Membership to Allegedly Discriminatory Beach Club
Democrat senator refuses to leave all-white private beach club despite championing racial justice
Democratic US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has apologised for – but has not left – an elite private beach club that refuses to accept anyone who is not white.
GoLocal Providence, a local publication in Providence, Rhode Island, confronted Mr Whitehouse in 2017 about his membership at Bailey's Beach Club in Newport, which does not allow minorities into its ranks and is considered to be one of the most exclusive clubs in the US.
Sheldon Whitehouse doesn't denounce super-exclusive beach club his family belongs to
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse last week refused to apologize for his family's membership in a reportedly all-White beach club in his home state of Rhode Island, calling beach clubs "a long tradition" and saying he hopes the club will admit minority members soon.
The senator's office on Monday denied that the club has discriminatory policies and said it does have minority members.
“It’s a Long Tradition in RI,” Whitehouse Defends Family’s Membership in All-White Club
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse continues to defend his family's membership in the all-white private Bailey’s Beach Club in Newport.
GoLocal interviewed Whitehouse on Friday in Pawtucket and when asked if the private club had admitted any minorities since GoLocal first raised the issue in 2017, Whitehouse said, “I think the people who are running the place are still working on that and I’m sorry it hasn't happened yet.”