Dauphin County moves polling location from local fire hall and social club over allegations of racism

The alleged racism at the Bressler Fire Club dates back years and prompted the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General to look into the issue in 2022. 

Following a contentious elections board meeting, Dauphin County Commissioners voted unanimously on Wednesday to move a polling place away from the Friendship Engine House in the Bressler Fire Club due to accusations of racism and discrimination. 

The Bressler Fire Club, which housed a Dauphin County polling location, came under scrutiny for discrimination in March after a Black resident asked for an application to join the social club, but was denied.

This prompted Swatara Township to shut down the volunteer fire company weeks after the initial incident and Wednesday’s vote followed a months-long effort spearheaded by Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas to relocate the remaining polling place to a nearby elementary school.   

“I’ve been an advocate and a proponent for moving the fire company ever since we were made aware of the racism taking place there, the discrimination taking place there, and I’m excited to see it finally go through,” Douglas said in an interview after Wednesday’s county commissioners meeting. 

“It’s disappointing that it took this long. It’s disappointing that we had to have it on the agenda twice in order for it to get through. I’m glad we’re here and I’m glad that we’re able to make change.”

The alleged racism at the Bressler fire hall dates back years and prompted the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (AG) to look into the issue in 2022. The AG’s office required “remedial actions taken by the company.” 

Pennlive reported in April that no details were provided on the prior investigation or what remedial actions were required for the fire company. 

“The bottom line is that the group that you would be doing business with had and continued a racial discrimination policy into 2024,” Swatara Township Supervisor Tom Connolly said during public comment. “I don’t know when it started. Probably some of these people don’t know when it started. They know it went on, but they don’t know when it started.”

Connolly then went to cite a report conducted by Swatara Township earlier this year that found the club to still be discriminating against local residents. 

“This isn’t something you want to be talking about in 2024. [The report] says, ‘unfortunately, the information leads us to believe the allegations are founded and the discrimination practices at the Bresler Fire Company and the Bresler Fire Club are likely to be taking place with regard to membership and rental practices,” Connolly said.