NAACP: Traffic Loop Is ’23 Miles of Humiliation’

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A federal judge decided Wednesday that the City of Myrtle Beach and the police department could implement the 23-mile traffic loop over the holiday weekend. Judge Marvin Quattlebaum stated that the NAACP had to prove that stopping the 23-mile loop would benefit the public interest for their request to be granted.

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In a press conference that was planned prior to the judge’s ruling, NAACP Associate General Counsel Anson Asaka said the bike loop is not based on a traffic need, but on a desire to keep black bikers out of the city.

“This traffic pattern is wrong, dead wrong,” said Asaka. “It’s the one time of the year where the majority of the tourists in the city are African America. That’s the one time of the year when the city imposes this draconian, strict 23-mile traffic loop.”

Leaders of the NAACP say roughly 20 volunteers will be in Myrtle Beach for what they call “Black Bike Week,” to monitor the actions of police officers and city leaders. Asaka says volunteers will observe traffic volume, police activity and policing tactics.

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“We may have lost the battle but the war is still going on. It’s a protractive battle. We’ve been here for years fighting against injustice in Myrtle Beach and we’re not about to stop now,” proclaims Asaka.

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“It’s not about traffic. It’s not about easing crime or preventing crime. It’s about discrimination. That 23-mile traffic loop is 23 miles of humiliation. It’s 23 miles of degradation. It’s 23 miles of discrimination,” states Asaka.

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[Editor’s Note: A description of how the bike loop works is available here.]