The third annual HBCU Beach Day recently faced a setback. Jacksonville Beach officials denied the permit applications days before the event was scheduled to be held.
Speaking to First Coast News, event organizers Tyree Jackson and Jarrod Gunn said they were taken aback by the officials’ decision. The beach officials also issued a cease-and-desist letter to Jackson and Gunn after they denied the permit in case the event is still held.
According to the City Manager, the permit was denied because it was submitted past the deadline; the organizers reportedly missed the deadline by a month. Jacksonville Beach rules require special event applications to be submitted a minimum of 90 days before the event takes place. Per Sgt. Tonya Tator had the officials let the event go on, there could be potential safety issues.
“There’s rules, state statutes, there’s city ordinances, all of those are in place to protect everybody from the people that are visiting here,” said Sgt. Tator in conversation with local news reporters.
According to Jackson and Gunn however, they were not informed on the process.
“We weren’t told that we can’t even have the event,” said Jackson. “From the email, we thought that everything was a go. People already booked hotel rooms, Airbnbs, got rental cars and all types of stuff.”
This year’s HBCU Beach Day, scheduled for April 12, is supposed to be the third iteration of the event. Held by students themselves, it celebrates student life at HBCUs. Hundreds of people were expected to attend the HBCU Beach Day in Jacksonville.
However, as of the latest news, it is still unclear whether the event will continue.
Jackson reportedly offered to pay for increased security and police presence at the event to ensure safety. The officials, however, promptly denied.
