Easyriders magazine editor Lou Kimsey made a plea in issue #3, October 1971, for bikers to unite to fight impending restrictions by joining a new national organization called the National Custom Cycle Organization. However, because of a conflict with the acronym, the name was changed in February 1972 to A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments (ABATE). Easyriders began granting state charters around 1974, making Keith Ball the original national coordinator.
About a dozen states formed an ABATE, or other State Motorcyclist Rights Organization (SMRO), so 2024 marks 50 years, a major milestone for the motorcyclist rights movement at the state and federal level. Last weekend, ABATE of Wisconsin celebrated its 50th Anniversary, capped off with a banquet and stories about the “old days.”
While it was a great party, the weekend was really about embracing advocacy. On Saturday afternoon, several hundred bikers rallied at the state capitol building in Madison (video above). On the steps of the capitol, speakers outlined the challenges facing bikers in Wisconsin and across the country. Riders from Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and South Dakota joined ABATE of Wisconsin at the event (image below). It was a day for bikers to not only be heard but also seen!
A highlight of the Saturday dinner was the appearance of former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Cabinet Secretary Tommy Thompson. Governor Thompson rallied attendees with a speech about the need to remain engaged in the political process. He proudly told stories about bills he signed to support motorcyclists during his time in office and rides he took across the state with ABATE leaders.
What started 50 years ago in states across the country has grown into a powerful force in American politics. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation salutes all our state partners who fight every day to protect and preserve the motorcycling lifestyle.
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