The Orange Crush Festival on Georgia’s Tybee Island was marred by violent brawls and unruly behavior, with videos of the chaos going viral on social media. The footage showed women fighting, pulling hair extensions, and losing their tops, while onlookers recorded the melees. The small police department on the island, with a population of about 3,000, struggled to keep up with the tens of thousands of students and alumni from historically Black colleges and universities who attended the event each year. While many attendees did not cause trouble, incidents of unruly behavior were captured on video and shared online.
The festival, which originated in Jacksonville in the late 1980s before moving to Tybee Island a couple of years ago, draws large crowds of co-ed party seekers for a weekend of drinking and parties. Last year, an estimated 40,000 to 55,000 people attended the event, leading to instances of criminal activity, including a road rage shooting. The celebration of student culture from HBCUs like Savannah State University has been likened to the infamous Freaknik event that was banned in Atlanta in 2010 due to high crime rates. Tybee Island Police Chief Tiffanty Hayes praised the community’s support during the event, calling it a success and expressing a commitment to making the island a safe place for residents and visitors.
The history of the Orange Crush Festival has been marked by controversy, with reports of violence and arrests leading Savannah State University to disassociate from the event in 1991. The festival moved to Jacksonville in 2019 due to various logistical and political issues before returning to Tybee Island in 2021. Despite the past reputation of the event, organizers and attendees continue to celebrate their school pride and student culture through the festival. While the exact number of attendees for this year’s event is not yet available, the large crowds and rowdy behavior have drawn both criticism and support from those involved.
The chaotic scenes at the Orange Crush Festival highlight the challenges faced by law enforcement and local officials in managing large-scale events with college students and alumni. The festival, which attracts a diverse crowd of young people looking to have fun, has generated mixed reactions from the public and the media. While some view it as a celebration of Black college culture and a way to build community, others see it as a source of crime and disorder that needs to be better controlled. As Tybee Island Police continue to review incident reports from the event, questions remain about the future of the festival and the measures that will be taken to ensure the safety of all participants.
The viral videos of the fights and unruly behavior at the Orange Crush Festival have sparked debate and discussion about the event’s impact on the community and the students who attend. The festival’s roots in celebrating historically Black colleges and universities have been overshadowed by incidents of violence and misconduct that have drawn negative attention. As organizers and law enforcement work to address the challenges posed by the festival, the future of the event remains uncertain. Whether it will continue to be a tradition that brings people together or a source of controversy and conflict is yet to be determined.
