There are two annual motorcycle events held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during the month of May. The first event is Harley Week. The second event is the Atlantic Beach Bike Festival, commonly known as Black Bike Week. Black Bike Week occurs during Memorial Day Weekend, one week after Harley Week.

Harley Week is a predominately white event. Black Bike Week is a predominately African American event. Black Bike Week is the only time of the year when the majority of tourists in Myrtle Beach are African American. The two events are separate and unequal.

During Harley Week, the City and the local business embrace and welcome the bikers. The businesses open their doors and put up signs saying “Welcome Bikers”. The City allowed a two-way pattern on Ocean Boulevard and the police presence is relatively light.

Conversely, before the NAACP’s involvement, the City imposed a one-way traffic pattern on Ocean Boulevard only during Black Bike Week. When African Americans participating in Black Bike Week came to town, there was a massive police presence. In the recent past, the police utilized overly aggressive policing tactics. The police continue to ticket and arrest black bikers for minor infractions. Compared to Harley Week, far more people are arrested during Black Bike Week.

In addition, many restaurants closed their doors and took down their welcome signs during Black Bike Week. Racism trumped the need to make profits.

During Black Bike Week, some businesses treated African Americans like second class citizens. Some hotels implement draconian rules. One hotel required black bikers to sign a Guest Contract which consisted of thirty four hotel rules. Some hotels required guests to stay for five days and pay in advance. Harley Week participants were not subjected to such treatment. Expressing distain for the black bikers, some hotels discouraged whites from making reservations during Black Bike Week.

One nationally known restaurant actually increased their prices during Black Bike Week. Another restaurant, Friendly’s Restaurant on Ocean Boulevard, was unfriendly to black people. Friendly’s closed the interior of the restaurant and forced the black bikers to eat outside of the restaurant. Instead of serving its normal fare, the restaurant served only barbeque. Friendly’s is known for its ice cream. During Black Bike Week, Friendly’s did not serve any ice cream. During Harley Week, the restaurant was open and offered its customary menu items.

Moreover, a major gas station chain instructed staff to close the restrooms and remove certain items from the shelves during Black Bike Week. The gas station closed its restrooms and forced black bikers to use unsanitary porta potties. The gas stations covered bathroom signs, covered the doors with caution tape and put barriers in front of the bathroom doors. They hired security guards to monitor the black customers. During Harley Week, the bathrooms were open and there were no security guards. We are not talking about something that occurred in the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s or the even the 1990s. Some of these things happened last year.

As a result of the NAACP’s hard work, many restaurants now open their doors and welcome the black bikers. The NAACP has had many victories in Myrtle Beach. The Association has successfully settled most of its federal lawsuits.

Now, the Myrtle Beach Police Department uses the same traffic pattern on Ocean Boulevard from 29^th Avenue North to 17^th Avenue South during the height of both bike events. Under the settlement agreement, the Myrtle Beach Police Department must train all officers deployed during Black Bike Week on policing crowds and cultural sensitivity.

Despite our accomplishments, there are several restaurants that continue to close during Black Bike Week. Accordingly, the NAACP will remain vigilant. We will continue Operation Bike Week Justice. We will continue to shine the light on Myrtle Beach. The NAACP will continue to monitor both the businesses and the police. We know that without public pressure and litigation the businesses and the police will revert to old regressive and discriminatory behavior.

If a business was open last weekend during Harley Week, it should remain open this weekend during Black Bike Week. Businesses should charge the same prices during Black Bike Week that they charged during Harley Week. Businesses should keep up the welcome biker signs during Black Bike Week.

To those attending Black Bike Week, the NAACP urges you to call 1-888-362-8683 to report closed restaurants, increased prices, police misconduct and other types of unfair treatment. If you observe any of these problems, please file a complaint at our command center located at Sandy Grove Baptist Church, 1008 Carver Street, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577. If you have a complaint against the Myrtle Beach police, we encourage you to file a formal complaint with the Myrtle Beach Police Department as well.

Anson Asaka

Assistant General Counsel

NAACP