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Gov Haley: Put an end to Atlantic Beach Bikefest

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, speaking in Conway, S.C. on Friday, May 30, 2014 called for an end to the Atlantic Beach Bikefest event in the Myrtle Beach area after violence that left three people dead and seven injured in five Memorial Day weekend shootings. Haley said after a meeting with area leaders on Friday that the string of deadly shootings was not a problem with law enforcement but an issue with the Atlantic Beach Bikefest event itself. (AP Photo/The Sun News, Charles Slate)

Gov. Nikki Haley has called for an end to a Memorial Day bike rally in the Myrtle Beach area after the shooting deaths of three people.

Haley said after a meeting with area leaders on Friday that the string of deadly shootings was not a problem with law enforcement but an issue with the Atlantic Beach Bikefest event itself, which attracts mainly black bikers.

Haley also said she wants to meet with Atlantic Beach leaders to discuss how to boost the economy and tourism for the area without Bikefest. Atlantic Beach Mayor Jake Evans says the town has no plans to cancel or significantly change the event.

Earlier this month, Myrtle Beach hosted a Harley-Davidson rally. No shooting deaths were reported during that event.

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