The third annual HBCU Seaside Day, set to convey a whole bunch of faculty college students collectively on April 12, is going through sudden pushback after Jacksonville Seaside officers denied the occasion’s allow and issued cease-and-desist letters to its organizers.
Tyree Jackson and Jarrod Gunn, the occasion’s organizers, say they have been blindsided by the choice. “It is historic for the Black neighborhood,” Jackson advised First Coast Information. “Simply to convey everybody collectively and simply to indicate everybody that we will come collectively and we will have a very good time, and we will do every little thing the appropriate manner with out having any points.”
Nonetheless, Metropolis officers say the occasion violated native tips. Jacksonville Seaside requires particular occasion purposes to be submitted at the least 90 days prematurely—a deadline organizers missed by a couple of month.
Based on Sgt. Tonya Tator with the Jacksonville Seaside Police Division, the coverage is about security. “There’s guidelines, state statutes, there’s metropolis ordinances, all of these are in place to guard all people from the folks which might be visiting right here,” she advised reporters.
Nonetheless, Jackson and Gunn insist they have been misled in regards to the allow course of. “We weren’t advised that we will not even have the occasion,” Jackson stated. “From the e-mail, we thought that every little thing was a go.” Then got here the cease-and-desist letters on March 28—simply two weeks earlier than the occasion. By then, college students had already made journey plans. “Folks already booked lodge rooms, Airbnbs, bought rental vehicles and all kinds of stuff,” Jackson continued.
Jackson supplied to rent safety and pay for police presence on the seashore, however stated that the proposal was declined. “We really wish to do it the appropriate and the legit manner,” he added.
In a press release, Jacksonville Seaside Metropolis Supervisor Mike Staffopoulos defined the allow denial, stating that, “The allow was denied as a result of it was not well timed filed in keeping with the necessities inside the Particular Occasions Coverage. With a view to preserve profitable, secure occasions, it’s crucial that the Particular Occasions Coverage is strictly and constantly enforced with all candidates.”
As of now, it is unclear whether or not the occasion will proceed, or how metropolis officers would possibly reply if it does.