OFF THE WIRE
Biker Rights Issues
New York Rider Magazine Article
When B.A.D. is Good
by Hank McGrath
Bikers Against Discrimination (B.A.D.), a special legal/legislative project created by Spirit of Biker Brotherhood, is focused solely on the aspects of discrimination against the American Biker. There are many types and acts of discrimination - using stereotypes and biases against a group of people in order to bar them from participation in society with freedom and liberty and to punish them as if they are second class citizens and unworthy of established civil and constitutional protections equal to all others in America. A few of our B.A.D. Honorary Members who support the cause for biker rights are Rogue (EasyRider Mag),Carmella Brown of NYRider Mag,Dino & Lisa Petrocelli,Don Birch of the SawMill,Broadway Choppers,Brenda Fox(actress/model)of womenmotorcyclist.com ,Chuck of AlphaBiker.com,L.J.James of BikerLowDown.com Radio,Stew Devenpeck of Hillview Tavern,Coleen & Lil Laker Joe and dozens of others who are available to offer advice to B.A.D. endeavors.
Bikers have been dictated to as to what they can and cannot wear, are banned from businesses and establishments, not properly represented in government, campaigned against by government agencies using the media as a tool of enforcement to manipulate society into believing bikers are criminals and of ill intent and so on. In every aspect of society there are groups,associations and clubs. None suffer barriers intently initiated by government more than motorcycle clubs and none have their political representatives turn their backs on them more than they do to the american biker and motorcycle clubs.
If we accepted the premise that a few wrong acts discredit and disfranchise the american biker and MC then we must also accept that a rogue or crooked cop should cause the entire police force to be disbanded or the crooked judge should be cause for closing down the court house or the crooked politician should be cause to close down and disfranchise the state legislature and so on...Sound insane? Well,look at the reality there. If the same standard and excuse used against the american biker and MC's does not apply to all other segments of society - In America THATS DISCRIMINATION! Period! B.A.D. seeks to solely attack that perspective,those standards used by govt. agencies and the process by which the american biker is percieved by the american public. To do that we need to develop statistics,surveys for mass public awareness/response and propose new legislation using our research in order to include the American Biker with equal rights as all americans have. B.A.D. looks at things from a different angle. Example: biker is stopped and ticketed for dwi. Most would say,"he should have not been drinking"...B.A.D. has no interest in the actuality of the dwi...Our interest is in the fact we find the stop was made NOT for any traffic infraction but because the biker had patches on. Thats like stopping a car because the driver is black! UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE!
Therefore,the charge and offense would not have happened if the biker was not being stereotyped and harassed by the police(not to mention the fact the biker only JUST HAD TWO BEERS 15 MINUTES AGO!). The dwi is for the lawyer,the discrimination is for B.A.D.
Recently, B.A.D. became an associate of "International Bikers Associates" which provides free services such as advice on motorcycle tickets,free referrals for legal consultations, free motorcycle maintainence with Merlin the Mechanic and more - 24/7.exclusively to the motorcyclist who is a member. This provides a resource for B.A.D. members and fellow bikers to get legal protection and be on point WHILE WE FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS! The more members we have the more clout we have in the eyes of the politicians and lawmakers. So we could build that pillar of justice for the biker & motorcyclist , B.A.D. has thrown in a free membership for the first 500 bikers who join I.B.A. so call (518) 772-3725 to learn more and support the cause of Bikers Against Discrimination. Only by YOUR SUPPORT will B.A.D. become GOOD FOR YOU!
