Bikers ignored in gang studies, programs

 

It is common knowledge among most law enforcement officials, so-called ABiker=s@ like Hell=s Angels and the Mongols are a constant problem and the recent events in Laughlin prove this beyond any doubt.  Three killed and a dozen injured leave little doubt that such groups are often a problem.  Indeed, some fairly recent incidents prior to the one in Laughlin are instructive.  For instance, in February of this year, one died and 10 injured in a fight between Hell=s Angels and one of their rivals, the Pagans during the AHellraiser Ball@ (an appropriate name!) in Plainview, New York; last October, at a motorcycle swap meet at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Southern California, a fight (officially called a Abrawl@) between the Hells Angels, the Mongols and a group called the Vagos, caused a cancellation of this event - surprisingly no one was killed, but four were injured as the gang members fought with Agas tanks, shock absorbers and handlebars@ according to an Associated Press report; in May, 2000, more than 30 members of the Mongols were arrested, as federal agents (following a two-year investigation) charged them with extortion, weapons violations, drug dealing, arson and murder.

What is really curious is that despite the problems presented by these motorcycle gangs, they are not officially called Agangs@!   Every year there is a "National Youth Gang Survey" sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).  In the most recent survey (covering about 5,000 law enforcement agencies) they define a "youth gang" as follows:  "a group of youths or young adults in your jurisdiction that you or other responsible persons in your agency or community are willing to identify or classify as a 'gang'."  Omitted from this definition were such groups as motorcycle gangs, hate/ideology groups, prison gangs or "other exclusively adult gangs."  Granted that this survey is about Ayouth gangs@ but the definition of Agang@ includes Ayoung adults,@ which could presumably include biker groups. 

The point being made here is that there has been a consistent stereotype about Agangs@ during the past couple of decades.  That stereotype goes something like this: they are males, either  African‑American or Hispanic and they thrive in inner‑city neighborhoods.  Indeed, in virtually every survey throughout the country during the past two decades, 80 to 90 percent of gang members are racial minorities and about 95 percent are male.  They are part of the Aunderclass@ living on the margins in decaying urban areas, wracked by poverty and despair and heavily patrolled by the police.  Movies are made about them, often furthering the stereotypes, and usually exaggerating there characteristics.  Where are the movies about ABiker gangs@?  Where are the conferences and workshops about these groups? 

And what about these groups?  Where do they come from and what are they like?  Two of the most notorious were involved in the melee in Laughlin.  Both groups originated in Southern California.  The Hells Angels is the older of the two, having emerged in 1948 in Fontana.  They took their name from a World War II bomber squadron.  All rode motorcycles and eventually became a very close-knit group.  They have consistently been an all-white organization and at times exhibiting very racist and sexist beliefs and behaviors.  They began to really flourish during the 1960s and by the 1970s law enforcement agencies were starting to arrest them in large numbers for such crimes as drug dealing, prostitution, weapons crimes and murder.  Such criminal activity continues to the present.