Haley Calls for End to Black Bike Week

After meeting with several Horry County elected officials about the fatal shootings during Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley bluntly said Friday that the Atlantic Beach Bikefest event must end.

Atlantic Beach elected officials did not attend Friday's meeting and could not be immediately reached for comment.

But on Thursday, Atlantic Beach Mayor Jake Evans said the town has no plans to cancel next year's event and will address crowds spilling over into nearby towns such as Myrtle Beach, where three people were killed Saturday night and seven others hurt in eight shootings.

Haley said the shootings and violence during the weekend hurt tourism and the potential for new industry and jobs to move into the Grand Strand because of the national attention it received.

"There are no revenues worth the bad press that we got this past weekend. There are no revenues worth the lack of companies that will come to this area because of what happened this weekend. There are no revenues worth the lack of tourism that we will lose because of what happened this past weekend. It is time for that Bikefest to come to an end," Haley said. "Let's make sure what's happening in Atlantic Beach is truly a reflection of South Carolina as a whole, and violence is not a reflection of South Carolina, pollution of South Carolina and disrespect is not a reflection of South Carolina."

Haley said she will address the issue with Atlantic Beach elected officials and work with them to promote the town in other ways and events.

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