Mummers Speak Out About Prostitution Raid At Downtowners Club
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Eyewitness News has learned two Mummers arrested in connection to Tuesday night's prostitution raid have been suspended from the Downtowners club.
This comes as fellow Mummers begin to regroup.
Tuesday night's prostitution bust inside the Downtowners club has changed the way many may look at the Mummers, much to the dismay of long time Mummers like George Badey and Bill Burke.
"This was something that was a total aberration. This was a total shock to the Mummers community. It's not indicative at all of what the Mummers are about," said Badey.
"I'm embarrassed not only for the Mummers, but for the Downtowners' organization. They are a good organization," said Burke.
They contend fellow Mummers are disgusted by the allegations of prostitution at the club on Snyder Avenue.
According to police, an undercover six-week investigation revealed on Tuesday nights half-naked women that could be see out in the open inside the club performing sex acts, while two members of the Downtowners club, Alfred Sanborn and John Murray, were bartending.
For Badey and Burke, the Mummers are a proud tradition steeped in long standing values and charitable work.
They say Tuesday night's arrest has tarnished that.
Burke says he has spoken to fellow Mummers who belong to the Downtowners club.
"They are absolutely sick over this. They haven't slept, some of them all week. They are so upset. They are so embarrassed that they embarrassed us," said Burke.
"We go all around and raise money for charities. We have blood drives. We do good things for the community. We are family in the community," Badey said.
Badey wants to be clear that whatever was going on inside the Downtowner's club on Tuesday nights was not something sanctioned by the Mummers organization.
Reported by Todd Quinones, CBS 3
