This weekend, thousands of Black college students are expected to attend the annual spring party known as Orange Crush at Tybee Island, Georgia’s largest public beach. In response to the chaos that ensued last year when over 100,000 people crowded the 3-mile island, officials have implemented roadblocks and increased police presence. Mayor Brian West hopes that these measures will deter future Orange Crush events from taking place, stating that the goal is to put an end to the large crowds that overwhelm the island.
Critics of the heightened security measures accuse local officials of overreacting and targeting Black visitors, as Tybee Island historically had segregated beaches until 1963. While the island sees large crowds during summer weekends, particularly on the Fourth of July, residents like Julia Pearce believe that the response to Orange Crush is discriminatory. Metal barricades have been placed along the main road and parking lots near the beach have been closed off, with the police force being significantly reinforced by additional officers from various agencies.
City officials defend their actions, citing safety concerns following last year’s Orange Crush party, which saw double the usual number of attendees and multiple arrests. Despite claims from Savannah State University students like Joshua Miller that race may play a role in the crackdown, Mayor West insists that public safety is the primary concern. The officials are taking inspiration from the strategies used to control crowds during spring break in Miami Beach, with the goal of preventing similar chaos from occurring at Tybee Island.
Ironically, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, a former Black student from Savannah State who helped start Orange Crush in 1988, now expresses concern about the heavy police presence at the event. Local businesses are also bracing for the impact of Orange Crush, with some planning to close while others, like Nickie’s 1971 Bar & Grill, remain open for to-go orders. This is not the first time Tybee Island has attempted to regulate Orange Crush; in 2017, alcohol and amplified music were banned on the beach during the event weekend, leading to a discrimination complaint and a non-binding agreement with the U.S. Justice Department.
In an ironic twist, the event organizer, Britain Wigfall, was denied a permit for food trucks during Orange Crush this year, prompting speculation about the future of the event. While Wigfall denies involvement in organizing any events on Tybee Island this weekend, the ongoing tensions between event organizers and local officials continue to impact the planning and execution of Orange Crush. Despite differing opinions on the motivations behind the increased security measures, all parties involved agree that the goal is to prevent a repeat of the chaos that unfolded last year during Orange Crush at Tybee Island.
