Pfffttt! I find this situation disturbing on many levels... I've cc/pasted the article and we the readers/riders can develop our own individual opinions. I've also included the link back to the Manteca Bulletin at bottom of post as well as a pic of patch above for reference.
Personally, I had family at this event and believe we missed the ordeal by only minutes. I side with Chaplain Bates. Can you say "Profiling?" How about "Discrimination?" ~mq01
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Editor, Manteca Bulletin,
My name is Chaplain Dave Bates. I am a member and chapter elder of Bikers for Christ Motorcycle Ministry.
I could not believe the incident that happened at the Pumpkin Festival Sunday afternoon. Two of my members were asked to leave the street fair by the Manteca Police because they were wearing their vest with our ministry patches on the back. They were told it was due to the shooting in Sparks, Nev., the previous weekend. We are a Christian Motorcycle Ministry, not a street gang, or even a motorcycle club.
It is the purpose of our ministry to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost section of society, the biker world, that society has chosen not to associate with. This ministry has been operating for 21 years with no problems. I was under the impression that profiling was against the law.
I find it appalling that a beer garden is allowed to operate in the middle of the street fair where drunken people can stroll around the event, then get in their cars and drive home, possibly causing an accident where innocent people could be injured or killed. I don’t see the logic in this other than the revenue the beer garden brings in. How can this be a favorable option over allowing a Christian Motorcycle Ministry to wear their club affiliation on the back of their vest? What is next? I suppose, next people will be asked to leave because they are wearing sport gear of their favorite team. I find this whole situation appalling. Thank you.
Chaplain Dave Bates
Minister, Rushing Wind Ministries
Bikers for Christ M/M
Central Valley Chapter Elder
http://www.mantecabulletin.com/section/37/article/27924/
I read all the comments I could find about it the Manteca area papers. Most, I guess were from local residents. A lot of them said it may be open to the public; but it’s paid for by private money – the Kiwanis. Not to knock the Kiwanis, but a club that didn’t allow women until 1987 isn’t high on my list of giving a crap about regardless of the work they do.
ReplyDeleteCouldn’t find anything about the display of Club Insignias. But the following was lifted from the Manteca Chamber of Commerce web site:
“Pumpkin Fair
The annual Pumpkin Fair presented by the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis, will be held on the first full Saturday and Sunday of October in downtown Manteca from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Street Fair portion complete with pumpkin patch, kids zone, truck show, car show, motorcycle run, three stages and over 150 vendors will once again be located in downtown Manteca near Library Park.”
If they had signs that said “No Club Colors”, ok that’s policy. If not, well take your money elsewhere. But why in the hell were they sponsoring a ‘motorcycle run’ if they didn’t want the folks riding the bikes?
Ridiculous. I expect there will be some continued fall out. What are Kiwanis saying? Anything?
ReplyDeletewillyD, you teach me something new all the time! great info!!!! i'll keep this in mind as the story unfolds. and to you and canajun both, no info/response found direct from kiwanis YET.
ReplyDeletemy logical side says folks may have a point and a patch is a patch is a patch. ok i get that. and i get there is probably alot of misunderstanding of what a patch and/or mc (motorcycle CLUB is). i also get there may be alot of hysteria currently due to the recent patch violence at street vibes and dragons clubhouse. but COME ON PEOPLE, a PATCH for a mc is 3 rocker. this is NOT a 3 rocker patch.
and no there was no mention or no signs stating "no colors" (even if this isnt colors to begin with).
watch, next, my ladies of harley (loh) patches or even better my arlens patches (the man known worldwide for neutrality) are going to get me ejected too. btw i hope these cops are hassling hamsters with their symbols/logos! we all know how scary those furry little yellow guys are. since this isnt profiling...right?!?...lol!
grrr! i suspect it stemmed from a lack of knowledge, but ultimately this kind of discrimination and wrongful profiling is hugely hurtful and impactful. grrr... :(
What happened in Sparks NV has nothing to do with some stupid Kiwanis pumpkin patch. They over-reacted, and I guess they all go to hell now for dissing Jesus.
ReplyDeletei agree, total over-reaction....
ReplyDeletehttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/germany-hells-angels-banned-from-frankfurt.htm
ReplyDeletelooks like this has gotten some attn...
Why they could not wear t-shirts instead of those cuts? Probably they would have left the bible lovers alone.
ReplyDeleteswitchum, yes you totally have a point. but then again maybe there would be no difference?
ReplyDeletebut who doesnt wear leather riding? especially if you rode city traffic to get to the event... and who wouldnt want to wear proudly whatever insignia they believe in or enjoy on their leather/tshirt/gstring/shoes/tattooed forehead/whatever........? :( eck deep sigh...
The fact is that John Q. Public Dumbass can't tell the difference between Bikers For Christ, a H.O.G. patch, or a Hells Angels cut and reacts as if they are all the same. It really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone when that happens.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the Christian Sport Bike Association guys would have been treated the same way in their multi-color Power Ranger riding gear?
Yeah, it's all profiling but it's racial profiling that is against the law not "You look like trouble" profiling.
I don't even like it if they had a sign "No Colors". What about sport shirts or any clothing with something on it? That could be next. On it was on a PUBLIC street.
ReplyDelete