Yesterday afternoon we highlighted a contrast of media coverage.

Friday in California Eliot Rogers shot 3 people during a shooting rampage and the media ran the story non-stop for the next 24 hours. Meanwhile in Myrtle Beach, SC, a similar rampage happened moments later.   Similarly 3 people killed, several more wounded and yet almost nothing said outside of local media.

Why?

Unlike California, the Myrtle Beach shootings did not stop on Saturday.   Last night two more people were shot in a similar violent fashion bringing the total number of people killed or wounded to TEN in just 24 hours of a holiday weekend in Myrtle Beach.

FIVE SHOOTINGS – Ten people shot or killed in a generally peaceful resort town in 24 hours.

Yet the national media still silent.

Why?

Take a look at this video and you begin understand why:

Within the local Myrtle Beach community there is an unfortunate history surrounding an annual event which brings a similar level of anxiety and violence to the community. It’s called “Black Bike Week“.

It’s not called Black Bike Week (BBW) by an element of racially divisive and/or race-baiting enterprises. No, the name is proudly presented by the organizers and host of the annual event.   Even the NAACP proudly boasts support for, and protection of, Black Bike Week. 

However, something strange happens inside the local authority (and media) when violence erupts at the BBW event.   The name changes to a less honest but far more politically correct generalization of “Bike Week”.

The renaming of the “Black Bike Week” to just “Bike Week” does not happen until the violence erupts.

Understandably to the law abiding biking community, that celebrates the week prior, it becomes a point of contention.

You see, in the week prior to Memorial Day, and Black Bike Week, there is a general Bike Week, “Harley Week”, without a racial component.

However, when the non racially identified Bike Week ends, the Black Bike Week begins.

Unfortunately for the media, there were no “Bike Week” shootings in the week prior to BBW to provide PC cover for reporting the violence that breaks out when BBW begins.

The response from the media and local authorities is a classic example of political correctness running amuck.

However, the community is responding to the reality of violence that Black Bike Week brings with it.  They want the violence stopped, they want the event cancelled, or, at the very least, more law enforcement brought in to curb the accompanying violence and mayhem.

But how does a city, a community, or a PC infected media actually outline where one event, mostly consisting of non-blacks does not need the militarized police presence, but the following week -consisting almost exclusively of black bikers- a significant police presence is needed?

How does a community tackle that reality in the modern PC world where racist accusations will be sure to follow?

You don’t need to go far to see the struggle. It’s happening right now, in Myrtle Beach South Carolina in the comment sections of the local media who are disingenuously trying to walk the PC tightrope and obfuscate the violence as non racial in componentry.

Yet the reality, as it appears, is the violence -especially the shooting violence- is specifically attached to only one of the two groups.

Some store owners have made the business decision to close shop during Black Bike Week because of the inherent danger. That brought on the wrath of the NAACP who threatened to sue any business who would be open for “Bike Week” but close when the more dangerous “Black Bike Week” begins.

[Via NAACP]  The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will again keep a close watch on the City of Myrtle Beach (S.C.) and local businesses this holiday weekend as annual Black Bike Week festivities get underway.

For the fourth consecutive year the NAACP will conduct Operation Bike Week Justice to monitor activities in the resort town during Black Bike Week, the annual Memorial Day weekend gathering of African American motorcycle enthusiasts. Throughout the weekend, NAACP teams will be monitoring police activity and treatment of African American visitors, observing the practices of local businesses and watching traffic patterns.

[…]  In 2006, the NAACP successfully concluded every federal discrimination lawsuit filed in Myrtle Beach that arose from complaints by African American tourists who attended Black Bike Week festivities between 1999 and 2003. The lawsuits referenced unequal treatment of black motorcyclists by the city, four restaurants and a hotel.

Negotiated settlements were reached with the City of Myrtle Beach, Damon’s Oceanfront and Barefoot Landing, Greg Norman’s Australian Grill, the Yachtsman Resort Hotel and J. Edward’s Great Ribs and More.

“The NAACP remains vigilant in order to ensure that all tourists are treated equally,” said Myrtle Beach NAACP Branch President Mickey James. “We will continue to pursue litigation to right these wrongs.”

As a result of the NAACP’s hard work, several restaurants that were closed in 2005 and prior years have opened their doors and welcomed black bikers. And now, the Myrtle Beach Police Department uses the same traffic pattern on Ocean Boulevard from 29th Avenue north to 17th Avenue south, during the times of 2 p.m. to midnight on Harley and Black Bike weekends. Under a settlement agreement, the Myrtle Beach Police Department must also train all officers deployed during Black Bike Week on policing crowds and cultural sensitivity.

Numerous discrimination complaints have been filed with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission against other Myrtle Beach area businesses in previous years.

Black Bike Week is the only time each year when the majority of tourists in the Myrtle Beach area are African American.  (NAACP LINK)

It is an interesting case study in politically correct anxiety to follow.

And if you want to follow the sociology, and watch how it plays out, here are some links to reference and follow along:

The Sponsor site and promotional page of Black Bike Week – HERE

The Sponsor Facebook page of Black Bike Week – HERE

The PC correctly titled opposition Facebook page “End Bike Fest” – HERE

The PC Local Media reporting HERE and HERE and HERE

More Local Media reporting HERE

A local website that tracks “The Thug Life” activity outlines some of the issues – HERE – And presents the history of the events and the “characters”, some with astounding criminal backgrounds, as they are revealed.

There is a stark contrast in national media coverage

Eliot Rogers = Shoots 3 people, stabs three, injures a total of seven, and gains wall to wall national media coverage.

Unknown assailant(s) = Shoots 3 people dead, injures seven others, and the national media ignore.

The Myrtle Beach Mayor speaks out as the NAACP threatens more lawsuits….. THE STORY CONTINUES HERE.