Biker-Motorcycle Politics

http://www.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com/2010/10/biker-motorcycle-politics-eco.html
Biker-motorcycle Politics, eco-terrorists, PETA and Gays Various political action groups and grassroots movements have been able to elevate their causes to National visibility and congressional debate. They have been able to elevate the discussion of their formerly minority issues to the mainstream media. Yet despite the existence of such alleged "advocacy" groups as American Bikers Aimed Towards Education-ABATE (and their various permutations), Bikers of Lessor Tolerance or BOLT, NCOM or the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, The American Motorcyclist Association-AMA, and Motorcycle Riders Foundation-MRF , motorcyclists fail miserably at advancing their own agenda.
Some of the above organizations have been in existence longer than other advocacy groups but appear to have locked themselves into a defensive posture that has them fighting many threats on many fronts. Small victories here and there but an inability to progress to a force to be reckoned with. This is especially interesting when a fair proportion of the motorcyclists agenda has to do with keeping themselves from getting killed?
Our contention would be that, discounting the large numbers of motorcyclists who are really cagers at heart and only ride motorcycles recreationally, in order to achieve some sort of improved public image they have in fact done little other than to misrepresent themselves. We would suggest that they ha mistakenly identified themselves as easy pockets to be picked by any number of charitable causes. They have violated the metaphor that "Chairity begins at home" and proved the metaphor, "like closing the barn door after the horse is out."
We recently learned that ABATE of Florida is allegedly monitoring the progress on three crahes that resulted in motorcyclist loss of life:
• On October 13, 2010, there will be another court hearing in Seminole County regarding the crash that killed “Diamond” Dave Mackish in September 2009. Ruth Perez, the driver responsible for slamming into thr ee vehicles and killing Mackish in the process, has not been to any of the court hearings since her arraignment in February 2010; allegedly the court feels that she lives too far away! As a bonus, when the court mailed her the notice of the upcoming hearing, it was returned “unclaimed”! ABATE of Florida, Inc.’s Brevard County Chapter will be attending the Oct. 13, 2010 hearing; contact the Chapter Secretary Jonell Pope at 321-698-5077 for more information.

• On October 13, 2010, there will be a court hearing in Sumter County regarding the crash that killed four motorcyclists in March 2010. It was reported by some present at Paul Sermons’ arraignment that he seemed to display no remorse for his actions. Sermons is being held on $202,500 bond, and the State Attorney’s Office’s Prosecutor has invited all motorcyclists to attend these hearings. ABATE of Florida, Inc.’s Sumter and Lake County Chapters will be attending the Oct. 13, 2010 hearing; f or ride details, "Click Here"

• On October 25, 2010, there will be a mandatory court hearing in Lee County regarding the killing of Phillip Baker. Arjuny Jani apparently was not paying attention as he turned in front of Baker’s Harley Davidson on September 25, 2010, causing the crash that killed Baker. The Florida Highway Patrol issued Jani a $159 traffic citation for failure to yield the right of way. Jani is currently free without any additional charges pending. Members from ABATE of Florida, Inc.’s Estero River Chapter will be present at the hearing. Contact Chapter President Tammy Brickley at 239-289-2647 for more information.

If in fact ABATE members do show at the hearings that would a positive step in the right direction. A tactic we have advocated here is, "filling the rooms with leather and surround the courtroom with motorcycles."

However we must ask the questions:

1. What actions will ABATE of Florida take other than witnessing the hearings and gather evidence to be presented when advocating for "stiffer penalties bills" which historically have failed at the legislative level. And,

2. What can be learned from these crashes to lead us to take the "successful" action.

We would propose that one of the reasons groups such People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals-PETA, GreenPeace and Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender social movements have achieved national attention is a combination of being able to use foresight, understand the benefits of of using street theater and guerrilla warfare.

Yet despite a lack of resources when compared to their enemies, it would appear many motorcycle organizations are afraid to move beyond the good ol boy systems of state legislation. Historically this is a tactic that has always failed civil rights issues. Make no mistake about it, we are talking about civil rights. This is especially interesting when some MC groups, such as B.O.L.T., have demonstrated that utilizing the courts and street action can have successes.

We must wonder if it might not be to little to late for some organizations such as ABATE. A "cursory" look at the crashes above would lead one to wonder what role "driver distraction" played.

Lack of foresight and tunnel vision we believe has guaranteed that many more motorcyclist will die as due to the failure of Many motorcycle advocacy groups to get in front of this issue. In fact, the leader of some of these groups such as the President of ABATE of Florida actually advocated against themselves.

Now we are faced with Motorcycle only roadblocks. Now we are again on the defense. How long can this continue? As long has we continue to rely on failed tactic and allow those that would repress us to continue to do so.

Due to time we will add links asap.

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