Williams: Few scars remain from Greekfest unrest
Published: September 8, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH On a blustery and overcast day last week, red flags at each lifeguard station warned beachgoers last week to beware of angry waters.
But on the 20th anniversary of a Labor Day weekend of notorious unrest here in Virginia Beach, the oceanfront of this resort city could hardly have been more placid. Time seems to have salved the wounds of Greekfest, a festive gathering of black sorority and fraternity members that erupted into violence, looting, arrests and damage totaling about $1.4 million in 1989.
This formerly segregated resort had appeared ambivalent about black visitors even before black college students began arriving annually for the end-of-summer blowout, whose roots traced back eight years to a modest gathering at nearby Croatan Beach.
After two peaceful days, tensions exploded when police attempted to disperse crowds that jammed Atlantic Avenue after nightspots closed. No one was shot or killed, but the resulting riots and looting -- occasionally to the strains of Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" -- were a shocking spectacle for a state that had escaped the 1960s urban unrest relatively unscathed.
In the aftermath, students alleged price gouging by innkeepers and harassment and brutality by police. Nonstudents who converged on the area were blamed for causing much of the trouble. Another problem was the oceanfront's inability to absorb 100,000 revelers without sponsorship or organized activities. The following year's renamed Laborfest had both, but was much smaller.
What seemed like a disturbance for the ages barely registered on the oceanfront last week. The idea of a "Greekfest" was more likely to bring to mind moussaka than a melee.
"It's before our time. I was born in'83," said Loni Patton of Baltimore as she strolled Atlantic Avenue. But even those old enough to remember struggled to do so, and others have simply moved on.
Lisa Craig-Desphy, a Norfolk State University alumnus and member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, was a fixture at black Greek gatherings during the 1990s, including those at Virginia Beach. Back then, she said, "it looked like they had a policeman for every kid."
Craig-Desphy, 36, feels more welcome now. She makes the trip from Philadelphia every year. "It's nice. And who doesn't like the beach?" she said as she strolled the boardwalk with her mother, Beverly Craig. "It's much more family-friendly now."
Meyera E. Oberndorf was in her first year as mayor of Virginia Beach when Greekfest erupted. She would hold the office until this year.
"I am proud to tell you that a person or city only grows more beautiful or stronger if they've learned from different opportunities that don't always look like a blessing," she said last week.
Chaplains and greeters were situated on the oceanfront to make visitors feel safe and welcome. Oberndorf visited high schools and colleges to promote a similar message. She credited retired Norfolk State University President Harrison B. Wilson with helping to create a healing environment.
"Out of that weekend 20 years ago, we have been able to come together as a community," she said.
Virginia Beach labored to get to this point, but it has emerged from the storm intact.
Contact Michael Paul Williams at (804) 649-6815 or
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Reader Reactions
Its funny you got to love the “code words” people use in their responses. I wonder what does “urban” look like? Does it look the same as “suburbs” or “rural”?
He suggest there was racial tension simply because it was black fraternities present. He does not explore the idea that there was tension because of the extraordinary amount of young partiers, regardless of race. VB was over matched for the amount of revelers. The looting and vandalism and the pure violence was caused by someone, but according to MPW…they should not be held responsible because they were provoked.
failure to take personal responsibility…try that MPW
why is it that whenever “urban” events happen, crime always follows. I remember the riots at vb, and i also remember the riots at KD that filtered into the streets of richmond.
When i was growing up, i remember a church event in richmond, where everything was going well until “free pizza” was being given away and all these “urban” neighborhood kids stormed the place and took all the pies… from that point on, i always keep a suspicious eye on people who look “urban”
My hometown, Philadelphia, has had a similar event for years.
Hardworking shop owner learned the hard way it was necessary to put plywood over glass windows and doors and close shop for the weekend when the wholesome festival came to town.
It was like what people in Miami do when a Category 5 hurricane is blowing into town.
Good ole fashion family fun.
What tjeightyone said. And lastly those thugs should have been made to pay for that property damage that they incurred and perma-banned from Va. Beach instead of being treated to a re-badged and re-themed event the following year.
Mr. Williams
You almost sound disappointed that there aren’t any scars from something that happened 20 years ago.
Yes, people do “simply move on.“ Maybe you should, too.
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