Tybee Island, Georgia is preparing for the annual Orange Crush spring beach party, which is organized by students at Savannah State University and has been happening for over 30 years. The event has caused controversy due to noise, litter, and other issues in the past, and last year’s event attracted over 100,000 people, overwhelming the small police force and resulting in numerous incidents. The mayor of Tybee Island is implementing roadblocks, extra police presence, and other measures to try to discourage the event from happening again in the future.
Critics of the increased security measures believe that the local officials are unfairly targeting Black visitors to the beach, as the island is largely white, and have no problem with large crowds during other events. Some believe that the crackdown is racially motivated, while others argue that it is purely for public safety reasons. The increase in security was influenced by tactics used to reduce crowds during spring break in Miami Beach and officials say they are aiming to prevent the chaos of the previous Orange Crush event.
Last year’s Orange Crush party resulted in 26 total arrests, including charges of armed robbery, fighting in public, and DUIs. One person was injured in a shooting incident off the island, although officials attributed it to road rage. Supporters of Orange Crush argue that it is not the college students attending the event that cause the most problems and say that the increased security is unwarranted. Some believe that the crackdown on Orange Crush may be due to fears of being called racist in the past.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who helped launch Orange Crush in 1988 when he was a student at Savannah State University, has expressed concerns about the heavy police presence at the event. Local businesses are also affected by the security measures, as some have to close during Orange Crush weekend, while others experience a decrease in profits due to restricted parking. The city of Tybee Island has previously targeted Orange Crush by banning alcohol and amplified music on the beach and has also tried to regulate large events in the past.
Despite efforts to control Orange Crush, some promoters are continuing to organize events associated with the party. The mayor denied a permit for food trucks during the event this year, but one promoter is still promoting a concert in Savannah. The ongoing conflict between officials, local residents, and event promoters demonstrates the challenges of managing large-scale events in communities like Tybee Island.
