OFF THE WIRE
A Harley Davidson dealership located in California (Quaid HD) agreed
to a “no motorcycle colors” policy as a condition of a SPECIAL EVENTS
PERMIT application provided by the City of Loma Linda. The application
was signed by Selene Hinckley of Quaid Harley-Davison. It is well
established that motorcycle club colors are protected by the First
Amendment from government discrimination. Loma Linda’s permit
requirement is a blatant infringement on the protected rights of
expression and association. And Harley Davidson, by being complicit, is
arguably in collusion with the local PD and may therefore be liable
under the state actor doctrine. Maybe more important, Harley-Davidson is
discriminating against the very foundations that their brand rests
upon. Can you imagine the economic impact if motorcycle clubs, their
members, their friends, and their families refused to buy motorcycles or
apparel from Harley-Davidson?
The National Council of
Clubs (NCOC), a group of motorcycle clubs dedicated to advancing the
legal, legislative, and political interests of motorcyclists nationwide,
has reported to the MPP that they will be sending an official complaint
to the City of Loma Linda requesting that the discriminatory “no colors
or cuts allowed” condition be removed from all policies, permits or
procedures. Additionally, the NCOC intends to send a complaint to
Harley-Davidson, Quaid and Corporate, reminding them that they are a
complicit party to unconstitutional behavior and that abandoning the
club community is a potential economic disaster for an iconic brand.
The
MPP will keep close tabs on any new developments in the story. Until
then, the MPP encourages motorcyclists and their supporters to contact
Quaid Harley-Davidson, Harley- Davidson Corporate, and the City of Loma
Linda to voice their condemnation of blatant discrimination.
This look fake?