WASHINGTON - Rich Mayo and his Honda VTX Cruiser made the trip from metro Atlanta to Washington to join the Bikers for Trump brigade, a loosely organized band of (mostly) brothers who have pledged to serve as an unofficial security force, lest protestors try to cause harm or property damage during inauguration festivities.
"What they stand for is to help the police," said Mayo, who lives in Loganville, in Gwinnett County. He got interested in making the trek when he heard protest groups coalescing as Inauguration Day approached.
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Thursday afternoon found him and other bikers who hailed from around the country hashing out their plans for Friday. At the site where they're permitted to rally, John Marshall Park, along the inauguration parade route, some of the guys were having a friendly conversation with some National Park Service agents:
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Others were hanging out and getting revved up, literally.
Mike Carmon rode his bike all the way up from Charlotte.
"It was a little cold," he mused.
Many other bikers, including Mayo, hauled their wheels up on trailers. Whatever their manner of travel, the bikers seem aligned on political issues, including hemming in illegal immigration and providing better care for military veterans.
Both Carmon and Mayo work in construction, and say they regularly encounter workers who are in the country illegally. Carmon says workers in the country illegally have cut into his business.
"Sanctuary cities are ridiculous - let's get rid of them," Mayo said, referring to cities that offer safe haven to residents irrespective of their legal status.
"I don't blame them for wanting to work," Mayo added. "I don't know what the answer is or the solution. I bet Trump does."
Campaign issues important to him this election cycle included what he felt were inadequate government responses to situations like the Benghazi attacks.
"Government accountability," he said.
