LOCAL

Chronister, son subpoenaed to testify Friday about black golfers' discrimination complaint

Logan Hullinger
York Dispatch
From left, Sandra Thompson, Carolyn Dow and Sandra Harrison listen as Myneca Ojo, right, give testimony during the second Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission hearing at York City Council Chambers Friday, June 22, 2018. The hearing was in response to allegations that the four and another member of the Sisters in the Fairway were racially harassed during an incident at Grandview Golf Club in April. Bill Kalina photo

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has subpoenaed former York County Commissioner Steve Chronister and his son to testify Friday, July 20, at a third investigative hearing about the alleged discrimination of five African-American women at the family's Grandview Golf Course.

The April 21 altercation made national headlines after Chronister, father of Grandview Golf Course co-owner Jordan Chronister, called the police on the group of women, alleging they were playing slowly and refused to leave.

The women alleged discrimination, and the incident made national headlines and became fodder for late night television hosts.

More:'Black in public': 'Daily Show' highlights York golf course altercation

The allegations prompted a rare two-day investigative hearing by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC), which investigates employment discrimination and other complaints on behalf of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

During the June 21 and 22 hearings in York City Council Chambers, police and another golfer at the course that day, Jerry Higgins, said the women were the only minorities present, had done nothing wrong and received unfair treatment.

More:'Grandview Five' women recall 'horrific' golf course confrontation

More:Grandview Golf Course hearing: 'They didn't do anything to be removed'

The Chronisters were not present during either day of the hearings, although they received a formal invitation nearly a month in advance, said Chad Dion Lassiter, executive director of the commission.

Subpoenas: Now, subpoenas have been issued to at least three individuals shown confronting the women in a video taken by golfer and York NAACP President Sandra Thompson — two of whom were Steve Chronister and his son, Lassiter said. 

The subpoenas legally compel those involved in the incident to attend the hearing and testify, he added.

The Chronisters could not be reached for comment.

While the next hearing was initially going to take place over a two-day span as the June hearings did, Lassiter said the PHRC is in the process of condensing the hearing into just one on Friday.

Black women allege discrimination at Grandview Golf Club