The story of Chicken Little is an allegory about alarmists, which concludes with an admission about ill-founded apocalyptic predictions.
Thinking about how “The Sky is Falling“…on my return ride from Street Vibrations yesterday…I couldn’t help but wonder if the speculation, rumors, concerns, worry and numerous citizen calls created an apocalyptic “environment” for the rally?
SWAT
I was in Virginia City during “Street V” and I’ve never witnessed (in the U.S.) so many submachine guns, stun grenades and specialized fire arms attached to so many SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) members… all of them willingly ready to perform dangerous operations. They were there to prevent another motorcycle rally from going sideways or prevent a terrorist attack by stud-n-leather clad motorcycle riders!
Talk about taking apocalyptic prevention measures… turns out that Virginia City pulled out all the stops (and city budget $$ too!) to have these specialized paramilitary tactical units “lurking” in doorways and engage any potential armed criminal or take down with steel reinforced boots any dangerous biker who ate one too many $5 combo hot dogs and beer.
Supposedly the apocalyptic predictions started just a few days before the Street Vibrations. Rumors started about biker “club” tensions or retaliation as a result of the San Francisco’s HAMC chapter president, Mark ‘Papa’ Guardado who was shot outside a bar earlier this month. He was a high-profile figure in the motorcycle club. A rival Mongols “club” member, Christopher Ablett is a suspect in the case. Since the funeral there has been a pipe bomb explosion in San Jose aimed at members of the Mongols.
Phone calls flooded the Nevada police lines with residents stating their concerns of biker violence spilling over into Reno, Sparks, Carson City and Virginia City. As a result the law enforcement agencies beefed up and planned for the worst of the worst. I didn’t see it, but it’s likely snipers with high-powered rifles and night vision optics were watching my every hot dog bite and beer burp?
Virginia City Police
There are so many analogies between motorcycle events and that of Chicken Little. The first is that all the doom and gloom are unnecessarily alarming. Second, they expose the inability of the average (non-motorcycle riding) citizen and their motorcycle hating followers to process relevant information and synthesize rational, appropriate interpretations. The majority of people and motorcycles at Street Vibrations are recreational riders and this was overkill to the power of TEN. An incredible show of AGGRESSION or police force which did NOT correctly interpret the situation or was supported by the facts.
Yes, there was a large “Red and White” presence at Street Vibrations. I saw a number of Vagos, Henchmen as well as many other “clubs”. Many of the clubs have a no colors rule and were not highly visible, but you could easily tell if a group were part of some “gathering”. I did not see Mongols.
I believe that law enforcement were tricked and fell for “the sky is falling” trap! It’s another example of how the Outlaw Motorcycle “Clubs” behavior helps set the overall “tone” for many motorcycle events and the police agencies worked in cooperation to miss-interpret.
To be fair, the Sheriff reported that on Saturday there was at one point about 11,000 bikers in Virginia City and they arrested 6 people. One for domestic violence, 2 for DUI, and the remainder for disturbing the peace and indecent exposure.
Yeah, the sky is falling…
Northwest Harley Blog 
I wonder what the total amount of tax-payer dollars wasted, er,… I mean “invested” in that event was. I’m sure it was more than made up for by the six arrests that were made.
Respects,
Hermano Roadrash
Mac,
Your description of the event sounds like my port call in Pusan S. Korea in the mid 70’s – armored personnel carriers and half-tracks everywhere and machine gun emplacements at all the major intersections.
Given the propensities of some of the OMG’s of late, i.e., using gunfire and other violence to settle their differences, I guess my view is that it’s better to have them (ARMED AND TRAINED LEO’s) and not need them, than to need them and not have them.
If they served as a deterrent, more power to em.
“…and this was overkill to the power of TEN. An incredible show of AGGRESSION or police force which did NOT correctly interpret the situation or was supported by the facts. ”
Mac,
I hope you never see “overkill to the power o ten” from the opposite side. It is not a pretty sight and just might change your mind about how you view things.
Remember Laughlin? Granted it was a few years ago, but two clubs shot up a casino. Might not have happened had they had more Police presence. With the murder of the Frisco President, I am quite sure they were expecting something big. Maybe…just maybe, nothing ‘big’ happened BECAUSE of the Police presence. We will never know the answer to that. I would much rather have them there than not.
I really don’t think they care much about how many hot dogs you eat or when you burp. I don’t quite understand what it is that so upsets you and others about having cops at an event. I am not bothered at all by having them at a rally, no matter how many there are and if they are on every street corner. I don’t park illegally, I don’t get drunk or do drugs, I don’t start fights, I don’t do wheelies down main street…in essence, I have nothing to fear from cops at all. It actually makes my day to see them. 🙂
Rather than be upset or annoyed by their presence, why not try another tactic. Go up to one and just say “HI, have a safe day.” Heck, say “HI” to all of them…wave at them on the road (with a full hand) You might find, they are really like you & I after all. Just regular people doing a sometimes thankless job. Give them respect…and you just might get it back. Some of them are really just great guys to be around. Trust me, they would rather NOT have trouble.
Hmmmm….now where have I heard this before??? Oh yeah, at the mind conditioning website. The one that tries to teach us all how to behave around an outlaw……it works both ways.
k`lam
have a great day & be safe
@ Retired LE – I agree it’s a fine line of balance and I get/understand the need for visible policing. Clearly it’s the job of law enforcement to protect law-abiding citizens. Whether they need hundreds of police or need no police at all really is a matter for them. However, when the amount of police presence and armament makes a reasonable thinking person start to question their personal safety…you start asking yourself why be here eating this hotdog?…then it comes down to being “more or less instructed or pressured” to not do something I’m legally entitled to do. My post wasn’t super clear that if the threat of violence prevents people from doing what they are perfectly entitled to do, well then, the men of violence have won and that’s never a good message or one the police should help reinforce. LE has a very difficult task to balance this out and it seemed over the top.
@ K’lam – Great suggestion. In fact, I make a point to do so on all my riding trips if nothing other than to say thanks or ask about any biker related issues. As I recall in Virginia City, a LEO stopped and questioned me about why I was taking photos of a church. That wasn’t his point…it turns out they were using the parking lot as a staging area and I think he thought I was photographing LEO’s…I wasn’t, but I’ve had my share of “debates” on taking photos of public places from public locations…I’ll save that for a loss of freedom rant on my photo blog. 🙂
My annoyance is how biker rallies are quickly changing and the outlook/tone are not positive. From my vantage it seems there’s a new tactic from the men of violence…create a perception of a threat of violence…cities and LE react. Costs go up for the city, promoter, vendors, hotels, and attendees, etc., people question their personnel safety which in turn effects attendance levels. We seldom hear/read about this side of rallies…it’s always how fuel prices are decreasing attendance levels and that is an overly simplistic view.
Thx again for your comments and enjoy the weekend.
-mac
Well, I hope the men of violence as you call them get a clue. They are shooting themselves in the foot (pardon the pun) and thereby derailing their efforts to put a positive spin on their lifestyle.
But that is the nature of the beast isn’t it?
The perception of violence you talk about is usually based on previous events. LE’s are reactionary. That is the nature of the job. The bad guy usually has the first shot. It ain’t fair but that’s life.
About that photo. Right or wrong, had you been a turban wearing Muslim taking that photo, they might have still contacted you…
Postscript:
The presence of LE in force as you described it is usually as a result of intelligence (accurate or not) that comes in prior to an event. They usually try to err on the side of caution.
The average Joe doesn’t make that connection. He just sees an armed camp at his event and wonders at the need for it.
Hi Mac,
It seems we keep allowing “the men of violence” have their way. THEY are the ones dictating once again to the majority.
We, as regular citizens would never tolerate that behavior from anyone else in our society. With the possible exception of the Mafia (which doesn’t exist) we citizens get up in arms about the bullies roughing up the little guy and taking his wallet or what have you. We have no problem reporting this crime, nor do we seem to have a problem in being called to testify. Only in this instance do we waffle and turn our eyes away to not see, to not become involved. Why? Because of the threats from these OMG’s to our person. We have let them dictate to us on how to act, talk, bow and scrape to them and to never “snitch” on them – or you face the repercussions. They have our actions and reactions down to a science. The LEO’s know they will find no witnesses to anything, or down the road when it comes time for the trial, the witness suddenly forgets. And so it goes.
It is OUR fault. WE are the ones who let this happen. By passively standing aside and watching and allowing it to continue. Then we blame the police for not ‘fixing’ it.
As I said before, I’d rather see an army there and not need them, than to see only a few cops which wouldn’t be enough had anything BIG happened.
Again, it is all of us collectively who are at fault here. The OMG’s, just found a weakness in us and took it and continue to exploit it. We go on their “open to the public” runs, their toy runs, etc…to be around them, rub elbows with them and be able to say, “hey, I know one, and he’s a nice guy”. Most of us do not want to hear or know about the other side of their life. It’s easier that way. However, there are more and more of us who are tired of them and their dictatorial ways.
Remember, were it not for the outlaws going to these events, there would NOT be a need for highly visual police presence. You would just have the run of the mill infractions to deal with. Again, remember, the average person plays by the rules and abides by the law. The outlaws do not have that same code. They take care of business themselves, no matter what or who is in their way. No matter what they have to do.
It ain’t fair……..and it ain’t right…..it just is.
I will still continue going to different events. I do not go on any OMG runs nor will I support them in any other way.
I also will never fault law enforcement for trying to protect me – ever.
You have a great weekend as well,
k`lam
I lived in Truckee and Reno for 15 years on and off, and during every event, law enforcement is beefed up. During Hot August Nights, they somewhat harass the classic cars, then Street Vibrations follows about 1 1/2 months later, and they beef up the enforcement again. The car harassment started after the riot in downtown Reno in the late 90’s during Hot August Nights, and the bike harassment after Laughlin 8 or 9 years ago.
I understand the need for public safety, but it makes the people who get screwed with not want to come back, thus trying to kill the event, like Hollister.