September 14, 2014

USA: 2 Million Bikers To DC 9/11 Organizer Threatened with Arrest by Parks Service Police


Here is a great video taken as the Bikers were leaving Harley Davidson in D.C. same time last year.

Breitbart News
written by Kerry Picket
Thursday September 11, 2014

An annual motorcycle rally intended to honor the victims of 9/11 and military veterans almost did not happen on Thursday when U.S. Park Services threatened to yank their permits and tow the motorcycles parked on the mall.

“The way the parks people talked to us and took my picture like I’m some sort of criminal was disgusting. We were basically threatened several times with pulling the permits at the last minute,” Belinda Bee, a national organizer for the 2 Million Bikers to DC told Breitbart News. “And everything they said that wasn’t on the permit, I pulled the permit out and showed them where it was.”

Bee added, “They tried to deny the 9/11 still memorial, which is on the permit. They tried to deny all of the stage and the truck. That’s on the permit.”

As bikers rolled up on to DC’s mall and parked on the grassy perimeter, Bee took to the stage and told attendees she was being threatened with arrest by U.S. Park Service Officers, because riders parked on the gravel and the grass.

“Luckily, the police that do the Madison and Jefferson streets ended up helping us out, because bikes were getting tickets even though we asked for permits for parking all the way around,” Bee said. “All other first amendment activities are given parking space. We were not. She told us we had to talk to Officer Johnson. Officer Johnson said he doesn’t issue the permits,” noting the Parks Service only wanted to know why DC did not issue the organization first amendment parking this year.

U.S. Park Services Public Information Officer Lelane Woods could not confirm to Breitbart News the actions claimed by the biker organization.

“We have tried for [first amendment parking], but I think they tried to flip it on us by trying to tell us that another department was over it.”

According to Bee the event, which is in its 13th year, was denied permits last year, but 800,000 to 1.2 million individuals showed up on bikes anyway. The attendance this year, however, was substantially lower and Bee attributes that to individuals who were concerned about the current terror threat.

“This year a lot of people were afraid. All of a sudden the Department of Homeland Security starts issuing warnings the day after we get a permit about be care for 9/11 attacks. A lit of our followers said they were scared, so unfortunately their quote – unquote protection for America—all of a sudden this department is concerned for America’s well being—please.”

Breitbart News rode with the group leaving from Coleman Power Sports in Arlington, Virginia and spoke with 2 Million Bikers To DC Pennsylvania coordinator Mark Carroll.

“It’s a lot of behind the scenes—a lot of organizing on the national level as well as the state level. Our national team works as soon as this event is over they get ready for next year,” Carrol said. “There’s no resting in between. It’s a very long process, but it’s well worth it. This is definitely something that is going to continue for a very long time.”

The mission of the ride according to Carroll “is to honor those who have fought and 9/11 victims. We’re all about the Constitution. Our mission is very straight and to the point. It’s a great group. We have a lot of great members and our national staff is amazing.

Bikers have been honoring 9/11 victims and the military for 13 years. In previous years, some bikers have gotten hurt riding from their home states to the DC area. Carroll stressed their organization’s priority is always safety.

“We take safety very seriously. We work with state and local authorities to try and make sure everybody makes it to the location accident free. Safety is a very big thing. We have people at the national level coordinate with DC Metro as well as DC Emergency Management.”

The band Madison Rising played at the gathering and various speakers criticized the administration for its national security policy. Speakers at the event included: Author Dinesh D’Souza, Fox News Contributor Bill Cowan, and Wayne Dupree.

For more info visit: 2 Million Bikers to DC website


NBC4 - Washington
written by Staff
Thursday September 11, 2014

Thousands of motorcyclists from around the country roared into Washington, D.C., Thursday as part of the annual "2 Million Bikers to DC" ride.

The ride and a subsequent rally honor the victims, survivors and first responders of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as well as members of the armed forces who have sacrificed themselves for the United States.

Early Thursday, bikers gathered in the suburbs before leaving for the District, creating a thunderous rolling convoy on blocked-off routes. They began reaching the National Mall around 11:30 a.m. for an honor rally on the National Mall, which began at 2 p.m. and will end at 8 p.m.

The rally is free and open to the public, who can find it between 12th and 14th streets and Madison and Jefferson drives.

"Builds me up," said one motorcyclist at the staging area in Fort Washington, Maryland before leaving for the ride. "Well worth the trip."

Another rider, Vietnam veteran Tom Secor, bought his Honda motorcycle just two weeks ago and rode in from Wisconsin. He said he had "the honor of being part of this group and being just one of thousands of riders that will be here that are honoring those that are no longer with us."

Red, white and blue was on display everywhere -- even on a set of high-heeled boots worn by Amy White.

"I skipped chemo to be here today," she said. "I'm dying of lupus, but I'll rock and roll until I can't go no more."

Before revving up for their ride, each motorcyclist received a name tag displaying the name of at least one person who perished on 9/11. Rider Rebecca Harris of Indiana received the name tag of Edward Calderon.

"God bless him. I mean, it's hard to -- you're going to get us emotional now," Harris said as she teared up. "But God bless him. I don't even know who they are." She reconsidered, then said, "I do know who they are. Right here." Harris touched her hand to her heart.

Around 10:45 a.m., motorcyclists began rolling out from Fort Washington Harley-Davidson along the blocked-off streets heading into the District.

Other riders left from staging areas at Battley Harley-Davidson in Gaithersburg, Maryland; Coleman Power Sports in Falls Church, Virginia, and Patriot Harley-Davidson of Fairfax, Virginia.

Prince George's County Police warned drivers about the riders from Fort Washington. There were some temporary road closures for safety reasons.

Posted by Princess Mononoke at 5:51 PM

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