Three weeks after the deadly Twin Peaks shootout that left nine dead and 18 injured, hundreds of bikers rode to Waco to protest the arrest of more than 170 bikers.
Without ever chanting a word, bikers made sure they were heard.
Early Sunday morning, a group of riders circled in front of the McLennan County Jail multiple times. They wanted the more than 100 bikers still behind bars to hear them and know they had support.
Protesters like Kelly O'Hare and Tiffany Teeter say they're standing up for the bikers who they believe were unlawfully arrested and battling the negative stereotypes about motorcycle riders pushed by Waco police.
“There's a lot of people that are innocent. That was just [in the] wrong place, [at the] wrong time,” says O'Hare.
“A lot of these bikers were putting people on the ground, taking them to the ice coolers or taking them to the bathroom, taking them to safety. And why are they in jail for saving people lives. If anything they should be getting awarded,” says Tetter. “These people have kids, they have families, they have jobs, they have lives, businesses, careers and I don't feel that it's right from them to have them locked up. This is ruining all of their lives.”
The bikers ended their ride in front of the McLennan County Courthouse and lined the intersection of 5th Street and Washington Avenue. Many carried signs calling out police for the arrests and the $1 million bond set by the justice of the peace.
“Not all the guys are guilty,” says O'Hare. “The ones that were inside didn't even know it was going to happen."
Many riders were angry at police and claim they're being unfairly stereotyped.
“Not every biker is bad… just because a few bad ones showed up that don't mean the rest of them were too,” says O'Hare.
Riders say they want the public to know that most bikers ride for fun and say people don't need to fear them.
“These people that are locked up do so much for this community,” says Teeter. “There's so many kids and families that wouldn't have food or during Christmas they wouldn't have any presents without these bikers.”
Protestors say the Twin Peaks shooting has hurt the entire biker community. They say they have been to hundreds of Confederation of Clubs meetings and never had any problems until the day of the shooting.
