11/8/2009 6:00:00 AM Motorcycle clubs stage quiet protest Businesses waive ‘no colors’ policy, serve hundreds of paying customers
JC AMBERLYN/Miner
Around 100 motorcycle riders gathered at Chuy's early Saturday afternoon for lunch. They were welcomed by the restaurant, which had instituted a "no colors" policy.
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KINGMAN - No major incidents or disruptions were reported Saturday after more than 500 motorcyclists rolled into Kingman to protest a "no colors" policy recently instituted by several local bars.
Bikers were even served at at least one of the bars they anticipated they would be turned away from. And one bar avoided the controversy altogether by closing.
"Why would they turn us away?" said Steve Musgrave, a member of the Desert Thunder motorcycle club and a registered motorcycle rights lobbyist for eight years. "Our money should be as good as everyone else's."
Musgrave rode 240 miles from Casa Grande to protest the move by several bars in Kingman to post a "no colors" policy. Colors are defined as a patch or insignia that identifies an affiliation with a motorcycle club, although several people have said they've been asked to leave several recent local events for wearing anything motorcycle-related, including Harley-Davidson T-shirts.
In July, motorcyclists in Kingman said they began to notice a visible police presence by the State Gang Task Force at their ride events, including the weekly Bike Night, where riders gather at a local establishment to eat and socialize.
Bike Night, which is sponsored locally by Performance Specialists, moved from Chuy's on Stockton Hill Road to the Sonic Drive-In on Andy Devine in early September after Chuy's instituted a "no colors" policy.
Riders wearing their club colors on Saturday expected to document people who were turned away from Chuy's for a possible class-action lawsuit. Those who arrived armed with discrimination forms, however, found no need for them after they were served, despite wearing their vests.
Bikers were also served at Cerbat Lanes but were asked to leave the Sportsman's bar. Police responded to the location at the request of the bar owner but no arrests were made.
The owner of Mad Dog's closed the establishment Saturday afternoon and posted a notice that as a business, they have the right to establish their own dress code.
Police had a highly visible presence around town and especially outside of the American Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs' meeting, which was held at noon Saturday at the American Legion Hall at E. Oak and Third Streets downtown. A police helicopter circled in the air after the meeting had adjourned, while several marked and unmarked police vehicles drove up and down the street.
Officers in at least one unmarked SUV were taking photographs and video footage of people congregating outside of the meeting. Police from Bullhead City also patrolled the area. Sgt. Bob Fisk with the Kingman Police Department reported no incidents by mid-afternoon.
Anecdotally, those inside and around the meeting traded stories about several riders who had been ticketed or arrested on their way to Kingman, including Sonny Barger, a founding member of the Oakland, Calif., chapter of the Hell's Angels. Barger, 71, was allegedly arrested at a gas station on Interstate 40 just east of Kingman Saturday morning. At least one law enforcement official confirmed the arrest but was unable to provide details.
Dan Balentine, president of the Kingman chapter of the Desert Road Riders, said his club was scheduled last year to host this month's ACMC meeting. It was originally scheduled to be held in Fort Mohave but was moved to Kingman so that riders could protest not only the "no colors" policy, but what the motorcyclists perceive as harassment on the part of police.
"We feel like law enforcement are the one who are trying to create a bad image of us," Balentine said.
Police have been tight-lipped about what prompted the surveillance by the State Gang Task Force in the first place, although Kingman Police Chief Robert DeVries has said previously that police aren't targeting riders as a whole but rather those involved in criminal and gang activity.
Musgrave said it is unfair for police to label motorcycle clubs as gangs.
"We are a club, not a gang. We have regular meetings and pay dues," he said. "Almost everybody here is a law-abiding citizen who has a job and pays their taxes, just like everyone else."
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009
Article comment by:
Angry citizen
I worked for Kelly and Mother Road HD.I know several HA,and DRR as well as members from other clubs,some are cops and some are bad [deleted] criminals with badges.I have been harassed by the state gang task force while riding home from work. Trying to get info about where the clubs get their work done and tried to tell me I was guilty of being a supporter if I worked on their bikes. Really? come on! Business is tough in the Harley industry. If a shop can get some business from a club then they get to pay their techs.
Once again the law enforcement agencies are waisting tax payer money on frivolous crap. How much money was spent to fly a helicopter around to keep an eye on a non-event? Cities are crying poorhouse all the time but blowing money on citizen surveillance.
Kingman of all places ought to be concerned more about the tweakers and crack heads that are all over that town.15 year old kids dying from alcohol poisoning. Spend time on our future, our kids. Leave people that ride bikes to social events alone.Stop waisting our money provide a benefit to the community instead of driving people and money away.I recently saw a bumper sticker on the back of Mercedes SUV. " Stop bitching, start a revolution". The constant law enforcement harassment is hurting many businesses. We the people need to get together and take a stand as our forefathers empowered us to do.
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
HA Puppets
Go to the Arizona Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs web site and note that it states "no cop clubs or members of law enforcement". Think about that. Here is the link:
http://www.azcmc.org/member.html
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
The Truth
Nytro wrote: Bikers of ALL groups, clubs and organizations including the HA's, do a lot for our communities all over, yet that is never mentioned anywhere, yet we continue to do it.
Nytro, Please don't be a cheerleader for the hells angels. The couple of charity events that they take part in are purely for propaganda puposes; To fool people about their true criminal behavior. Everyone should read about them and 1% gangs like them...They are the reason for the no colors policies, not the other law abiding organizations mentioned. Read about them and learn the truth about their crimes. [Deleted].
Educate yourself.
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Learn about it.
Nytro, any group that aligns itself with the hells angels is supporting their crimes along with their propaganda charity toy run. Research and educate yourself about the criminal activity of the HA and similar 1% MC's in AZ before cheering too loudly for them.
Don't even try to compare non criminal gangs/clubs with the HA.
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
no gangs
Nytro,
You were doing fine on your post until you started cheerleading for the hells angels. The only thing the HA do for any community is bring more crime and drugs to it. A couple of charity runs and the smiley face they put on for a few toys for tots is pure propaganda meant to fool the foolish....[deleted]. Read about them and educate yourself. Luckily our law enforcement have their number and hopefully will keep them and the crime they bring with them out of Kingman.
Don't dirty yourself and your club by associating it in any way with a 1% outlaw motorcycle gang. No one cares about the colors of some of the clubs you mentioned, but when you go to bat for the hells angels and gangs like them you just sound ignorant. Educate yourself.
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Nytro
I'm curious, I was just in a parade with my husband & about 100 other bikers to celebrate "VETERANS DAY". A day that shows our appreciation for the men & women who have sacraficed making this country what it is,so are you telling me that if they were to wear their vest that say maybe "AMERICAN Legion Riders your establishments won't serve them? Are you kidding me! They served their country & you won't serve them because they wear their vest proudly!?! That is just flat out discrimination & stupidity, let alone ignorance.
Also how about the "Choir Boys Motorcycle Group", which is made up of our policemen, your not going to serve them either? They too serve our citizens, with some who have served our country, but you won't serve them either. I am not a member of any Motorcycle Club, but I am a member of a motorcycle organization that helps ABUSED children, are you telling me I won't be able to wear that either? What the hell is this country coming too!! Bikers of ALL groups, clubs and organizations including the HA's, do a lot for our communities all over, yet that is never mentioned anywhere, yet we continue to do it. I am a mother of 3, grandmother of 6, business owner, tax payer & a law abiding citizen yet I can't get served because of the cloths I choose to wear?? Us Bikers wear these cloths for protection & to proudly wear what we believe in, & now we're being told how to dress...that is so pathetic. "STOP STEREOTYPING" it's a form of discrimination & we need to stop that!!! And don't forget those that wear a uniform or a suit are some of the biggest criminals around, they just use the law to do it. Pretty sad when you focus on this & not on those criminals that are destroying our country, our children, who are our future AMERICA. If you don't like riding that's fine, I don't like those that sit on their butt & do nothing but complain, but I don't tell you how to dress!! WAKE UP!!!
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
no criminal gangs
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by: Not Blind to Your Game
Does anyone else see the hypocrisy in the ACMC having a protest ride about bars posting this policy, yet if I want to form a “club” and design and wear a 3 piece patch I have to get their permission and pay a yearly due. Don’t even think about using the colors red and white. There are numerous incidents of people being beaten for wearing club colors without permission of the Hell’s Angels and their puppet association the Arizona Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs.
And to T. Kelly.....all of your rhetoric about spending money and the fund raising. This is all a smoke screen to blind the general public about the criminal activities of your Hell’s Angel friends.
The Hell’s Angels and any “club” that supports them is not welcome in Kingman; no matter how much money they raise for charity.
This is the smartest and most truthful post on this forum. A big thanks to our law enforcement in letting the HA know they are not welcome here. Read about the hells angels and educate yourselves.
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
kauphy
hi my dad partyed with the HAs a long time ago and most of them were very well behaved and i also have a brother who rides here in kingman. there r good and bad in all circles including the cops or as they r called here in kingman the good old boys. if i went into a bar (which i don,t) i would really like to know who i,m sitting by if someone has their colors or a patch on i know who to stay away from. what makes everyone think just caz they r not flying their colors or wearing their patchies when they go into a bar or whatever that they r not going to cause trouble. not everyone who rides is evil just like not every cop is bad or on the take. don,t judge the many by the few. its not the clothies that make the person its the person under the clothes.
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
Not Blind to Your Game
Does anyone else see the hypocrisy in the ACMC having a protest ride about bars posting this policy, yet if I want to form a “club” and design and wear a 3 piece patch I have to get their permission and pay a yearly due. Don’t even think about using the colors red and white. There are numerous incidents of people being beaten for wearing club colors without permission of the Hell’s Angels and their puppet association the Arizona Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs.
And to T. Kelly.....all of your rhetoric about spending money and the fund raising. This is all a smoke screen to blind the general public about the criminal activities of your Hell’s Angel friends.
The Hell’s Angels and any “club” that supports them is not welcome in Kingman; no matter how much money they raise for charity.
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I've got a question for our city/county leadership. If you're so worried about gangs coming into Kingman and Mohave County, why did you allow the prison to be built so close to town? It was only after the prison was populated that I started seeing the gang members with their tats in town. It would be better to sic the State Gang Task Force on them than on the relatively harmless bikers.
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
heathen chip
anyone heard of the blue knights?? just checkout the website blueknights.org They look just like any club out there. but you have to be a cop to join? would that count? doubt it.
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
The Kingman God Fathers wasting money as usual ! Why don't you invest in the children there, the schools something REALLY important ! What a joke the KPD is and always has been since I moved to Kingman in 1978 Very petty !
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
COWBOY
I'M IN NO WAY A BIKER. I'M A COWBOY. I HAVE WORKED WITH SEVERAL BIKERS THRU MY LIFE. HECK I'VE PARTIED WITH BIKERS AT LAUGHLIN AND KINGMAN. I ALSO KNOW SEVERAL K.P.D. OFFICERS,I RESPECT BOTH SIDES. I HAVE ALSO PARTIED WITH SEVERAL K.P.D. OFFICERS. I WOULD RATHER HANG-OUT OR BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NON-HYPICRITICAL BIKERS. THE OFFICERS ARE FOLLOWING ORDERS BY HIGHER-UP'S. LIKE CHIEF DEVRIES AND MAYBE EVEN OUR CITY MANAGER OR MAYOR. MAYBE THEY SHOULD PARTY WITH BIKERS. THE MANAGER PARTIES WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
Ellen M. Baca
I agree with T Kelly! As a friend of his and as a motorcycle enthusiast, too bad so sad Kingman. Bikers and otherwise spend their money the same as anyone else, if a local bar wants to take it to this extreme so be it there is another establishment that will be glad to serve us. However it would be nice if we could all be on the same page.
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
Deuce
To Del Ray - I did talk to Tom, Chuy's owner. He told me why he implemented the no colors policy. Go back and talk to him. Better yet, can we hear from some of the Bar owners out there?
