Mississippi Black Spring Break organizer speaks out on treatment received at this year’s event

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – Some beachgoers who attended Mississippi Black Spring Break were left unhappy about the treatment they received at this year’s event, including an organizer who says everything should have been treated equally.

Feelings of disappointment and relief are what Mississippi Black Spring Break organizer Maurice Bryant feels about this year’s event.

“There’s a lot of issues that we need to address, but overall, we are very happy there were no major incidents of that nature,” Bryant said.

He along with other beachgoers were upset over the new rules that included the lack of vendors being allowed on Highway 90.

Maurice says the Biloxi Police Department told him the parking bays next to Surf Style would be open for the public, but cars were towed during the day along with arrests.

“They were towing and ticketing vehicles in the middle of the day prior to 10 at night when the bays were supposed to be closed for parking,” Bryant said. “I don’t understand their reason for doing it. It was just a hindrance and trying to hinder people from having activities is just the same as they were telling people they couldn’t stand on the sidewalk. That is clearly a difference compared to other events where people bring lawn chairs and sit in the same place I’m standing now.”

Maurice says that while he is optimistic about Biloxi working with him for next year’s spring break, he would like to see Black Spring Break receive equal treatment that other events receive.

“If this is how you’re going to treat visitors who come here, we don’t want this. This is not the treatment that is fair and no one should be treated like this. If Cruisin’ the Coast was coming around, we don’t want anyone to be towed who is parked legally or have people who stop or keep moving while on a sidewalk. It’s unnecessary.”

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