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‘Boxed Into a Corner,' Residents Brace for Thousands to Attend Motorcycle Rally
This year’s festival may attract about 250,000 people despite an uptick in coronavirus cases across the state, city officials say, leading to fears it could become a super-spreader event. When the virus upended life across America in the spring, it forced the cancellation of graduation ceremonies, music festivals, marathons and other large gatherings. Sturgis, which has hosted the rally since 1938, pushed ahead with its plans anyway. The 10-day rally, which begins Friday, may be the country’s largest public gathering since the pandemic began, and it comes amid widespread opposition. More than 60 percent of residents favored postponing the event, according to a city-sponsored survey. "We should have postponed or canceled the rally last March," said Terry Keszler, a Sturgis City Council member, echoing the concerns that have divided his community. City officials faced pressure from businesses, people outside the city and threats of ligation, Mr. Keszler said. Still, they cut back on advertising and canceled city-sponsored events, including the opening ceremony. Over the past week, there has been an average of 84 coronavirus cases a day in South Dakota, a 31 percent increase over the previous two weeks. And some say the surge might grow worse: The city plans to offer coronavirus testing for its residents once the rally concludes on Aug. 16. Posted by: Besoeker 2020-08-07 |
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