MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The hearing date has been changed for a judge to hear the NAACP’s argument that the Myrtle Beach traffic loop should not be implemented during Memorial Day weekend.

A June 5 hearing was originally set for Judge A Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. to hear the case inside the Florence federal courthouse, according to court documents. The date and location for the hearing have been changed.

The hearing for the preliminary injunction will now take place May 8 at 1:30 p.m. in Greenville.

Court documents also reveal a list of witnesses “likely” to testify at the hearing.

Defendant Witnesses:

  • Chief Amy Prock is the Police Chief for the Myrtle Beach Police Department and is expected to testify about her involvement in the law enforcement measures taken during Memorial Day Weekend.
  • Capt. Joey Crosby is a Captain in the Myrtle Beach Police Department and is expected to testify about his involvement in the law enforcement measures taken during Memorial DayWeekend.
  • John Pedersen is the City Manager for Myrtle Beach and is expected to testify about his involvement in the planning and implementation of the law enforcement measures taken during Memorial Day Weekend.
  • Cathie Rhodes is a police officer with the Myrtle Beach Police Department and is expected to testify about her involvement in gathering data on the law enforcement measures taken during Memorial Day Weekend.
  • Randy Webster is the Chairman of the Bikefest Task Force and Director of Emergency Management for Horry County. He is expected to testify about his involvement in the law enforcement measures taken during Memorial Day Weekend.
  • Renee Hardwick is the Director for the Horry County Emergency 911 Dispatch and is expected to testify about her involvement in gathering data on fire and rescue operations during previous Memorial Day Weekends.
  • Ken Holoman is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and regular attendee of Memorial BikeWeek. He is expected to testify about his experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Phil Schoonover is the owner and manager of Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson. He is expected to testify about the Harley-Davidson Spring Rally in Myrtle Beach and Horry County.
  • Sharon McCants is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks and the Harley-Davidson Spring Rally.
  • Veronica Gilliard is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and regular attendee of Memorial Bike Week. She is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks and the Harley-Davidson Spring Rally.
  • Victor Shamah is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and the owner of the Bowery, a restaurant and bar in downtown Myrtle Beach. He is expected to testify about the Harley-Davidson Spring Rally in Myrtle Beach and Horry County.
  • Violet Lucas is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and regular attendee of the Memorial Day Bikefest. She is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial BikeWeeks.
  • Cornilla Simpson is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks and the Harley-Davidson Spring Rally.

Plaintiff Witnesses:

  • Simuel Jones is from Chicago, Illinois and a Plaintiff in the instant lawsuit. He is expected to testify about his experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Cedric Stevenson is from Suwanee, Georgia and a Plaintiff in the instant lawsuit. He is expected to testify about his experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Leslie Stevenson is from Suwanee, Georgia and a Plaintiff in the instant lawsuit. She is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Chief Mitchell W. Brown is a former police chief for the Raleigh, North Carolina Police Department and a retained expert for the Plaintiffs. He is expected to testify about his opinions of the law enforcement measures taken during Memorial Bike Week.
  • Dr. David B. Clark is the Executive Director of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Center for Transportation Research and a retained expert for the Plaintiffs. He is expected to testify about his opinions of the traffic regulations made during Memorial Bike Week.
  • Mickey James is the President of the Myrtle Beach Chapter of the NAACP. He is expected to testify about the NAACP’s involvement with the City of Myrtle Beach and his observations during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Lewis Clark is from Rocky Mount, North Carolina and is expected to testify about his experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks and the Harley-Davidson Spring Rally.
  • Randolph Anderson is from Lawrenceville, Georgia and is expected to testify about his experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Novice Briggs is from Orangeburg, South Carolina and is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Kenneth Coleman is from Richmond, Virginia and is expected to testify about his experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Larry Graham is from Angier, North Carolina and is expected to testify about his experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Patrice Johnson is from North Carolina and is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Natalie Litsey used to own Natalia’s Bar and Grill and is expected to testify about her experiences as a business owner in Myrtle Beach.
  • Alexandra Stewart is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Raimyia Wheeler is from Wilmington, Delaware and is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • William Booker is the former City Manager of Atlantic Beach, South Carolina and is expected to testify about his experiences as City Manager.
  • Joyce Frink is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and is expected to testify about her experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks.
  • Joseph Washington is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and a pastor at HOPE Church in Conway, South Carolina. He is expected to testify about his observations and experiences during previous Memorial Bike Weeks and the Harley-Davidson Spring Rally.

The NAACP filed a lawsuit against the City of Myrtle Beach and the police department in February. The lawsuit claims discrimination, among other things, over the traffic loop’s implementation during Memorial Day weekend but not during other seasonal events that draw a large number of visitors. The NAACP also requested a preliminary injunction to stop the traffic loop from being used during next month’s bike fest.

The NAACP’s complaint states there are drastic differences between two bike events held in the city in May. The lawsuit alleges that African-American bikers are treated differently during Black Bike Week, a title used by NAACP officials during a February press conference, compared to the treatment of majority-White bikers during Harley Week.

The complaint claims that the two events “attract a similar number of visitors to the Myrtle Beach area” but “…the City deploys far more police officers during Black Bike Week than Harley Week and that the police officers utilize overly aggressive policing tactics against African Americans.”

In a press release distributed by the NAACP, officials claim that the 23-mile traffic loop and police behavior discriminates against African-American visitors.