What happened here is the FACT that the police presence was an/and was an intimidation. I am from Orange County, California and new to the Bay and Northern California rides. We, down in Southern California, WELCOME the biker community. Something I have NOT seen up here. The biking Community in Southern California brings forth thousands and thousands of dollars in charitable donation dollars to these events.

I have witnessed and have been discouraged in giving my money/dollars to any events up here because of the intimidation I have witnessed up here. When these rallies/events appear, there is a network of "giving." If we are hassled and intimidated by others, we WILL go somewhere else and spend our money ...

You have to remember: We are not all "outlaws" ... for crying out loud: it is the year 2007 ... we are now judges, lawyers, accountants, blue collar workers, paralegals, waitresses, retired, working everyday people making good money, who just love the ride and love to give by the ride ... it is getting harder and harder to do this in Northern California and it is a violation of our civil rights to do so.

Don't be surprised that we start to fight back politically and morally. The Fryed Brothers are a hired music venue which brings in MONEY to these charities ... don't blame it on the music ... blame the bad turnout on the people with closed minds thinking that we who ride motorcycles are terrorists on two wheels. In fact, we are people who ride motorcycles who love this country, who ride with the freedom of giving and with LOVE.

Kathy Hurwitz lives in Alameda.

{mos_sb_discuss:4}