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Geoffrey Fieger On DAC: 'This Is An Old Institutional Bigotry Club'

DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit attorney Geoffrey Fieger has been denied membership into the Detroit Athletic Club due to what he claims to be bigotry.

"The sponsors got a call saying that the powers that be had decided that they didn't want somebody like me in the club," Fieger told WWJ Newsradio 950's Lauren Barthold. "I don't know if it was because of my Jewish heritage, my support for African-American rights, my outspoken defense of Dr. Kevorkian, but they wanted my sponsors to withdraw their support of me so they didn't face the embarrassment of blackballing me."

Fieger thinks that this sort of treatment is nothing new.

"This is an old institutional bigotry club, I mean they have a long history," Fieger said. "They -- for years -- didn't let Jews or blacks or women in there and those people are still in charge of the club."

Fieger said that the club called his sponsors -- which included his friend Art Van -- and told them to withdraw their support. That happened after Fieger took a trip to the DAC in search of answers on why they officially decided not to let him in.

"I guess, all-in-all, it reflects not badly upon anybody except this club and their hierarchy," Fieger said. "Unfortunately the members are guilty by association there -- it's sad."

A call to the DAC was not immediately returned.

"My whole point is if you're a bigot just come out and say you're a bigot -- don't hide your prejudice, don't be a coward about it," Fieger said.

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