NAACP to Monitor Myrtle Beach for Discriminatory Practices During Black Bike Week

For the seventh consecutive year, the NAACP will conduct Operation Bike Week Justice to monitor discriminatory practices in Myrtle Beach during Black Bike Week, the annual Memorial Day weekend gathering of African American motorcycle enthusiasts. Throughout the weekend, NAACP teams will be observing police activity and treatment of black tourists, monitoring the practices of local businesses, watching traffic patterns and fielding calls via an incident hotline. A press conference will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, May 26th at Myrtle Beach City Hall outlining the plan for the weekend and the strategy for monitoring the city.

“Any form of racial discrimination against Black Bike Week visitors will not be tolerated,” said NAACP Vice President of Stakeholder Relations Nelson B. Rivers, III, and a native South Carolinian. “Closing businesses or refusing to provide equal services to Black Bike Week visitors that are provided to visitors at other times of the year, not only makes no economic sense, it is against the law.”

In 2009, the City enacted ordinances designed to eliminate the Harley Week and Black Bike Week. The ordinances prohibit parking lot gatherings, landscape gatherings, loud mufflers and many special events. Additionally, the City has implemented curfew laws. The Association will be monitoring law enforcement to ensure the new ordinances are equally and fairly applied during Harley Week and Black Bike Week.

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In recent years, the NAACP and African Americans have filed and successfully settled federal discrimination lawsuits against the city of Myrtle Beach and area businesses for unequal treatment of Black Bike Week visitors compared to those who attend Harley Week, traditionally held one week earlier and a predominately white event.

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Again this year, a complaint hotline will be activated for individuals to report closed restaurants, police misconduct or other unfair treatment. {snip}