Bikers protest at Myrtle Beach Take Back May event
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Bikers protest at Myrtle Beach Take Back May event...
To say a hearty thank you for the apparent success of the new anti-biker rally ordinances in Myrtle Beach, the group
Curtis Graham
News13
Bikers protest outside a Wednesday rally held in honor of Myrtle Beach city leaders who helped get rid of the May biker rallies.
To say a hearty thank you for the apparent success of the new anti-biker rally ordinances in Myrtle Beach, the group Take Back May hosted a lunch for Myrtle Beach city leaders on Wednesday.
The event, held inside the old train depot in Myrtle Beach, drew hundreds for a free barbecue lunch.
Outside, dozens of bikers, not allowed in by security guards, protested the rally, and, ultimately, the laws that kept thousands of bikers—and their hard-earned money—out of Myrtle Beach this past May.
“We decided we would try to keep it on peoples’ minds,“ said Tom Rice, a member of Take Back May, a collection of Myrtle Beach residents and business owners who pushed city leaders to do away with the Harley Davidson motorcycle rally and events surrounding the Memorial Day Bike Fest. Rice said in years past, it seemed the furor from full-time residents over the biker rallies quickly subsided.
“I feel bad for people who lost money,“ Rice said. “I think sometimes profit is not worth what you put the community through,“ he said.
Bikers protesting outside say city council went about this all wrong.
“If city council would have approached the biker community and said, ‘we really don’t want bikers in the month of May. How about you move to June?‘ I really don’t think that would have been a problem,“ said Lee Wimmer, who owns on a custom bike shop on the south end of the Strand.
“This whole thing has affected our economy,“ he said.
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Reader Reactions
Be glad I do not own a business in MB, I would have sued the City for economic loses due to incompetence.
I am not a “biker”, but because of the stupidity shown by your city council, I did cancel my vacation planned for MB and we (and our money) will be heading elsewhere. Three families of four, 7 days stay, plus meals and entertainment. That’s small drop in the bucket… but your buckets has holes like that all over the place now.
Congrats MB, hope you become a ghost town. Maybe the next city council (no way you are going to get re-elected) will be a little more friendly and we will come back.
Sanity and civilty have returned to the beach…Thank you Mayor Rhodes and the city council!!!
If profit is no big deal…then will Mr. Rice return all the money that Take Back May has paid him and is he doing attorney work pro bono these days? Why are his profits more important than the hard-working men and women who depend on all tourists, not just a select few?
As a city resident, I received an invitation to the barbecue. I’m under the impression that every city resident got one in their mailbox. I could not attend because I had to work, but if I could have, I would have shown up wearing my HELP T Shirt.
I am NOT a biker. I do not own a motorcycle, or ride on one.
I however am someone who is well aware of the long term effects that the loss of the Rallies will have on our city.
I would like to point out that the “crime” that was mentioned will not go away with the rallies. In fact, I will not be surprised if the crime in this city gets worse. Almost all of the crime in MB is committed by the people that are here ALL YEAR LONG. And now that they have lost income because of the loss of tourism, I guarantee you they’ll be committing more crimes…
The discrimination shown today by the city is disgusting. I had my wedding reception in that building because of the pride I had for the city’s historic site. Now they’ve officially despoiled that image.
Thanks City Council for ruining a lot about this town.
All you comunist pukes that dictated who could come to MB Just remember what goes around comes around. It is a tourist town. I hope when the next hurricaine hits there you loose what you have and dont expect us to come and help yall out like we have in the past.
and one more thing—Magnolia Rest. and
The Crab House in M. Inlet…we all enjoyed your many meals over the years.
Thank you Take Back May people….You will miss our families and friends. We
will miss the two weeks at hotels, shopping and dining out BUT we WILL NOT
RETURN again…Your actions have helped us discover many new places to vacation
4 times a year..and we are excited to go elsewhere from this day forward. OH,
Our children and grandchildren will be
going elsewhere as they too think what
you have done to the businesses of MYRTLE BEACH is wrong—-RUN PEOPLE OUT…I’m sure you are all so proud you
finally will have your small town (a high crime small town) BACK..Youre actions are well known across the US and
yes, people are looking else where. Charleston, Savannah, NC are all beautiful coastlines—are did you forget
you are not the only place to vacation…
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