April 18th 2024.
Attention Black college students! If you were planning on attending the annual beach party on Georgia's Tybee Island this weekend, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. According to ABC News, residents of the area east of Savannah have been voicing their complaints about the beach party known as Orange Crush for quite some time. And now, after over 30 years of hosting the event, the authorities have finally had enough. Police officers and barricades will be used to block off neighborhood streets and nearby parking, making it difficult for partygoers to access the festivities.
But don't worry, this doesn't mean the party is completely off the table. The event, which was originally created by students at Savannah State University in 1988, has become a beloved tradition for many Black college students. Thousands of students flock to the largest public beach in Georgia every year to join in on the fun. However, for the 3,100 locals who call this place home, the party has become a source of frustration. Complaints range from loud music and trash left behind, to disrespectful behavior like urinating in people's yards.
In fact, things came to a head during the 2023 event when a staggering 48,000 people descended upon the small 3-mile island. The local police force was overwhelmed with calls of gunfire, drug overdoses, traffic jams, and fights. As a result, 26 people were arrested, including one individual for armed robbery, four for public fighting, and five for driving under the influence. It's no surprise that Mayor Brian West has had enough and is determined to put an end to Orange Crush once and for all.
“This has to stop. We can't have this crowd anymore," Mayor West stated. “My goal is to end it.” However, not everyone is on board with this decision. Julia Pearce, a Black resident and leader of the Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization, believes that the predominantly white town is unfairly targeting events that attract large numbers of Black people. She points out that during other busy weekends, like the Fourth of July, the town doesn't take such drastic measures.
“Our weekends are always bustling with visitors, but as soon as Orange Crush rolls around, they shut down the parking and bring in extra police," Julia explains. "It's like they automatically assume that Black folks are up to no good."
Mayor West, on the other hand, insists that this is not a race issue. The only thing that concerns him is the safety of his citizens, which is why he has finally taken action against Orange Crush after years of hesitation. “To me, this has nothing to do with race," he says. “We can't allow fear of being labeled as racist to prevent us from ensuring the safety of our community."
In the midst of all this controversy, BLK Dating App has introduced a new feature called Spring Break Mode, which aims to connect travelers heading to popular destinations. So even if you can't attend Orange Crush this year, there are still plenty of opportunities to make new connections and have a fun spring break experience.
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