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| 'Black Bike Week' riders cry foul over security increase at annual gathering | 'Black Bike Week' riders cry foul over security increase at annual gathering |
| (3 days later) | |
| Related: Waco shootout: how a friendly Sunday get-together ended in a biker bloodbath | Related: Waco shootout: how a friendly Sunday get-together ended in a biker bloodbath |
| For more than two decades, thousands of African American motorcyclists have traveled across the nation to South Carolina, to attend the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest. On the last weekend in May every year, the low hum of customized choppers with high-handle bars and the high-pitched revs of neon-painted street bikes have sounded out on Ocean Boulevard. | For more than two decades, thousands of African American motorcyclists have traveled across the nation to South Carolina, to attend the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest. On the last weekend in May every year, the low hum of customized choppers with high-handle bars and the high-pitched revs of neon-painted street bikes have sounded out on Ocean Boulevard. |
| The 2015 Bikefest, however, was different. Ocean Boulevard, a two-lane commercial strip running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, was partially closed. Hundreds of police officers enforced a one-way traffic pattern that clogged streets for miles and forced motorcyclists to idle in gridlock for hours. Much to the dismay of riders, pedestrians walked faster than bikes. | The 2015 Bikefest, however, was different. Ocean Boulevard, a two-lane commercial strip running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, was partially closed. Hundreds of police officers enforced a one-way traffic pattern that clogged streets for miles and forced motorcyclists to idle in gridlock for hours. Much to the dismay of riders, pedestrians walked faster than bikes. |
| Outside the Sandy Beach Oceanfront Resort, Sean Robinson watched the stop-and-go traffic from the seat of his parked 2008 Harley Davidson, his arms crossed. For the sixth consecutive year, he had traveled five hours from Richmond, Virginia, to attend Bikefest, which is known to most attendees as “Black Bike Week”. He was upset with the way things had changed. | Outside the Sandy Beach Oceanfront Resort, Sean Robinson watched the stop-and-go traffic from the seat of his parked 2008 Harley Davidson, his arms crossed. For the sixth consecutive year, he had traveled five hours from Richmond, Virginia, to attend Bikefest, which is known to most attendees as “Black Bike Week”. He was upset with the way things had changed. |
| “I’ll never come again,” said Robinson, blasting Migos’ hit song Hannah Montana from the stereo of his bike. He said his group of friends spent more than $20,000 on lodging for a week-long stay, with little return. | “I’ll never come again,” said Robinson, blasting Migos’ hit song Hannah Montana from the stereo of his bike. He said his group of friends spent more than $20,000 on lodging for a week-long stay, with little return. |
| “We’re spending a whole lot of money,” he said. “You can’t ride a Harley. You can’t move. It used to be open and you could go both ways, sideways, everything.” | “We’re spending a whole lot of money,” he said. “You can’t ride a Harley. You can’t move. It used to be open and you could go both ways, sideways, everything.” |
| An estimated 400,000 people were expected to travel to Myrtle Beach for the holiday weekend. But one week after nine people died in a white biker gang shootout in Waco, Texas, Myrtle Beach officials invoked public safety as they ramped up police presence and enacted their controversial traffic plan. | An estimated 400,000 people were expected to travel to Myrtle Beach for the holiday weekend. But one week after nine people died in a white biker gang shootout in Waco, Texas, Myrtle Beach officials invoked public safety as they ramped up police presence and enacted their controversial traffic plan. |
| Last year, the vast majority of riders peacefully partook in Bikefest. But three people were shot to death and several others suffered gunshot wounds. South Carolina’s governor, Nikki Haley, called for city officials to end Bikefest for good. Local officials decided to keep Bikefest going, albeit with some drastic changes. | Last year, the vast majority of riders peacefully partook in Bikefest. But three people were shot to death and several others suffered gunshot wounds. South Carolina’s governor, Nikki Haley, called for city officials to end Bikefest for good. Local officials decided to keep Bikefest going, albeit with some drastic changes. |
| “This isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. Our staff has been working non-stop this weekend to try to keep everyone safe | “This isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. Our staff has been working non-stop this weekend to try to keep everyone safe |
| Law enforcement officers from more than 40 agencies and three states traveled to Myrtle Beach. According to Mark Kruea, Myrtle Beach’s public information officer, no shooting deaths occurred this year and only one person was injured in a shooting, at the Compass Cove Resort Hotel. | Law enforcement officers from more than 40 agencies and three states traveled to Myrtle Beach. According to Mark Kruea, Myrtle Beach’s public information officer, no shooting deaths occurred this year and only one person was injured in a shooting, at the Compass Cove Resort Hotel. |
| Kruea said three motorcyclists and one moped rider died in traffic accidents. Other riders filled local emergency rooms to capacity with non-fatal injuries. Several crimes occurred, including robberies and kidnappings. | Kruea said three motorcyclists and one moped rider died in traffic accidents. Other riders filled local emergency rooms to capacity with non-fatal injuries. Several crimes occurred, including robberies and kidnappings. |
| “This isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time,” Kruea says. “Our staff has been working non-stop this weekend, literally around the clock, to try to keep everyone safe, keep traffic moving, respond to emergency calls, investigate crimes, clean up wrecks and generally keep the peace.” | “This isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time,” Kruea says. “Our staff has been working non-stop this weekend, literally around the clock, to try to keep everyone safe, keep traffic moving, respond to emergency calls, investigate crimes, clean up wrecks and generally keep the peace.” |
| But Alonzo Pritchard, a Memphis tire shop manager who attended Bikefest for the 18th consecutive year, said the city had sapped the life out of the gathering. For the first time, officials lined Ocean Boulevard with steel barricades. They also replaced the usual traffic pattern with a temporary 23-mile one-way traffic loop that forced all motorists and motorcyclists to circle the heart of Myrtle Beach. | But Alonzo Pritchard, a Memphis tire shop manager who attended Bikefest for the 18th consecutive year, said the city had sapped the life out of the gathering. For the first time, officials lined Ocean Boulevard with steel barricades. They also replaced the usual traffic pattern with a temporary 23-mile one-way traffic loop that forced all motorists and motorcyclists to circle the heart of Myrtle Beach. |
| “The pedestrian protections on the Boulevard worked well, as did the extended traffic loop,” Kruea said. | “The pedestrian protections on the Boulevard worked well, as did the extended traffic loop,” Kruea said. |
| Barry James, a resident of Danville, Virginia, who attended for the 10th time, said the restrictions, compared with those in place for the 2015 Spring Harley-Davidson Rally one week earlier, which is held 15 miles outside of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet, were troubling and intentional. The Murrells Inlet event attracted thousands of riders, most of whom were white. Minimal security and traffic measures were in place, James said. | |
| “If you’re going to do it, keep it fair, do it the same way every time,” he said. “They’ve got to lift these barriers. We’re not locked up, we’re free, they’re got us restricted like we’re locked up and that ain’t right.” | “If you’re going to do it, keep it fair, do it the same way every time,” he said. “They’ve got to lift these barriers. We’re not locked up, we’re free, they’re got us restricted like we’re locked up and that ain’t right.” |
| Such allegations have forced the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to monitor the festival for much of the past decade. Anson Asaka, associate general counsel with the NAACP’s national office, said Bikefest riders have routinely faced a “pattern of discrimination” compared with the nearby festival which attracts predominately white bikers. | Such allegations have forced the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to monitor the festival for much of the past decade. Anson Asaka, associate general counsel with the NAACP’s national office, said Bikefest riders have routinely faced a “pattern of discrimination” compared with the nearby festival which attracts predominately white bikers. |
| Here, in Myrtle Beach, because of unfortunate events, the collective group of black bikers gets punished | Here, in Myrtle Beach, because of unfortunate events, the collective group of black bikers gets punished |
| “When something like [the Waco biker shootings] happens and it involves white bikers, there’s no collective condemnation of white bikers in general,” Asaka said. “Here, in Myrtle Beach, because of unfortunate events, the collective group of black bikers gets punished.” | “When something like [the Waco biker shootings] happens and it involves white bikers, there’s no collective condemnation of white bikers in general,” Asaka said. “Here, in Myrtle Beach, because of unfortunate events, the collective group of black bikers gets punished.” |
| In past years, Asaka said, local business owners, quick to welcome white attendees, closed down their restaurants and shops to avoid serving black Bikefest attendees. According to Asaka, law enforcement officers during Bikefest used more “aggressive” policing tactics and arrested black riders for minor offenses like revving their engines too loudly. | In past years, Asaka said, local business owners, quick to welcome white attendees, closed down their restaurants and shops to avoid serving black Bikefest attendees. According to Asaka, law enforcement officers during Bikefest used more “aggressive” policing tactics and arrested black riders for minor offenses like revving their engines too loudly. |
| Following such actions in the early 2000s, NAACP officials filed federal lawsuits against Myrtle Beach officials and local business owners, to ensure black riders received the same treatment as white. The advocacy group reached settlements to improve police relations and make sure local shopkeepers kept their businesses opens when black riders came to town. | Following such actions in the early 2000s, NAACP officials filed federal lawsuits against Myrtle Beach officials and local business owners, to ensure black riders received the same treatment as white. The advocacy group reached settlements to improve police relations and make sure local shopkeepers kept their businesses opens when black riders came to town. |
| Since the city’s settlement agreement expired in 2010, NAACP members have continued to monitor both South Carolina bike festivals, fielding discrimination complaints through a hotline and holding press conferences to deter potential misconduct. Asaka said the NAACP received a “significant” number of complaints during this year’s Bikefest related to the new changes. He declined to elaborate on the number of people who contacted the organization. | Since the city’s settlement agreement expired in 2010, NAACP members have continued to monitor both South Carolina bike festivals, fielding discrimination complaints through a hotline and holding press conferences to deter potential misconduct. Asaka said the NAACP received a “significant” number of complaints during this year’s Bikefest related to the new changes. He declined to elaborate on the number of people who contacted the organization. |
| Related: Texas motorcycles, politics and guns: welcome to the biker world | Related: Texas motorcycles, politics and guns: welcome to the biker world |
| “Quite a few people compared it to being treated like animals in a cage because they were locked in and it was only established for Black Bike Week,” he said. | “Quite a few people compared it to being treated like animals in a cage because they were locked in and it was only established for Black Bike Week,” he said. |
| Inside the Sandy Beach Oceanfront Resort, manager David Savoca said business at the hotel had remained relatively constant compared with past Bikefests. He preferred the extra safety precautions. But he also empathized with the motorcyclists who were expecting to ride their bikes – not sit in traffic for hours. | Inside the Sandy Beach Oceanfront Resort, manager David Savoca said business at the hotel had remained relatively constant compared with past Bikefests. He preferred the extra safety precautions. But he also empathized with the motorcyclists who were expecting to ride their bikes – not sit in traffic for hours. |
| “We respect bikes, we like being full, we’re here to make money,” Savoca said from behind his second-floor desk. “It may deter them from wanting to come back because it’s now an event where you’re not cruising on your bike any more. You’re just walking. That’s not what this event is all about.” | “We respect bikes, we like being full, we’re here to make money,” Savoca said from behind his second-floor desk. “It may deter them from wanting to come back because it’s now an event where you’re not cruising on your bike any more. You’re just walking. That’s not what this event is all about.” |
| Sean Robinson said he would not be returning Myrtle Beach until officials got rid of the traffic loop, did away with the barricades and let motorcyclists travel without major impediments. As far as he was concerned, he would rather spend his money somewhere more hospitable to riders. | Sean Robinson said he would not be returning Myrtle Beach until officials got rid of the traffic loop, did away with the barricades and let motorcyclists travel without major impediments. As far as he was concerned, he would rather spend his money somewhere more hospitable to riders. |
| “It’s not fair,” he said. “If we can’t move, it’s not worth it.” | “It’s not fair,” he said. “If we can’t move, it’s not worth it.” |
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