This week, motorcycle bike clubs, riders, and supporters in the Modesto and greater Central Valley area made a historic show of solidarity against the police harassment of local bike club, “Most Envied”, of West Side Modesto. Things have been brewing for some time between police and the motorcycle club. According to members of Most Envied problems stem from continued harassment, intimidation, terror, violence, raids, threats, and what many bikers believe, an attempt by the police to create an all out ‘gang war’ between Most Envied and other local bike crews. But, the united show of support from local clubs shows that the bikers of the Central Valley aren’t going to take this repression lying down.

On Tuesday, July 1 about 100 bikers gathered outside of Modesto City Hall as they prepared to go before the City Council to demand that the police end the harassment against Most Envied. Once inside, several speakers took the floor representing Most Envied and demanded that the Modesto Police Department end their war of repression and profiling. One speaker, John Mataka, detailed a list of complaints of continued harassment by the police against members of Most Envied. These included police raids, helicopter fly bys over members homes, attempts to get club members fired from their places of employment, harassment of club members on various holiday outings, intimidating family of club members, and constant harassment of those within the group.

Once the large crowd had left the meeting and as police looked on nervously, one member of another motorcycle club yelled, “They want us to go to war [with Most Envied,] but it’s not going to happen!” People then cheered and clapped. But, as the bikers left, they were followed by the police. A short distance away one reporter saw a member of Most Envied slammed stomach first into an unmarked police car, with an officer right behind him. The reporter then pulled into a parking space and began to watch as two members of Most Envied were taken from their bikes, had their tattoos and bodies photographed, and held by police for close to an hour. Modesto Police Officers were also joined by Stanislaus County Sheriffs, as well as several other law enforcement officers armed with various weapons and armor. About 10 police officers and about 5 police cars were used in the arrest of one man who was charged with “assault with a deadly weapon,” and the lengthy detention of another.

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