NAACP explains why they waited three years to sue the city of Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, S.C. (WPDE) — The NAACP filed a discrimination lawsuit against the City of Myrtle Beach and its police department Tuesday. The lawsuit stemmed from a 23 mile traffic loop the city imposed on the weekend of the event, which first went into effect in 2015.

“Our goal is to have the court reach a decision before Black Bike Week. That’s the reason why we filed the preliminary injunction, to stop the city of Myrtle Beach from implementing its discriminatory traffic pattern during this year’s Black Bike Week,” said NAACP staff attorney, Anson Asaka.

Supporters of the lawsuit claim the traffic loop is racially motivated.

“Well essentially this traffic loop is designed, solely to discourage African Americans from attending Black Bike Week,” said Asaka.

The organization has made threats each year to sue the city, but said this was the time to move forward with a lawsuit.

“We’ve had an opportunity to review a massive amount of documents from the city that we previously didn’t have, so it was a matter of assembling a team that had the capacity to bring this type of litigation,” said Asaka.

Organizers say the loop has inconvenienced a good majority of visitors.

“There were people that could literally see their hotels but because of the traffic loop, they were unable to go directly to their hotels and they ended up being rerouted,” said Asaka.

In the lawsuit, the NAACP cited statistics that showed fewer people came to Myrtle Beach during Black Bike Week than during Harley Week.

“It’s the one time of the year when the majority of the tourists are African American and it’s the one time of the year when the city of Myrtle Beach imposes this 23 mile traffic loop.”

Leaders with the NAACP said if any member of the public has a complaint or concern from the past they want to hear from you. Contact them at (877) NAACP-98.