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7 Valley cycle clubs ride to pay tribute to Trayvon
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Sondra “Honey” Jones of Youngstown sits on her motorcycle at Jokers Wrath on Market Street in Youngstown, waiting for the rest of the “Dangerous Curvez” motorcycle club. The group participated Sunday in a motorcycle run to raise money for Trayvon Martin’s family.
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
They didn’t know Trayvon Martin, and they live more than 1,000 miles from where he was shot and killed.But that didn’t stop members of Valley motorcycle clubs from joining a national ride to honor his memory.
Members of about seven clubs met Sunday at the Joker’s Wrath Motorcycle Club on Market Street for a two-hour ride. There was no fee to participate, but many bikers paid $10, with the money going to Martin’s family.
Martin was killed Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., by George Zimmerman, a member of a block watch who contends he was assaulted by the unarmed teen and shot him in self-defense.
The issue has sparked protests nationwide. Zimmerman has not been charged with a crime.
“Everybody here is a parent,” said Tyla “Sixtwo” Smith, secretary of the Joker’s Wrath club. “Nobody wants to get that call in the morning. We’re just here to raise awareness, just for justice.”
If the shooting “was right, it was right, but if it was wrong, it was wrong,” she added. “So we just want to make sure that we pay attention. This can happen to any of us; it can happen to any of our children. And we just want to let the family know that we’re here for them, no matter what the outcome.”
The ride was part of a national event, with motorcycle clubs throughout the country participating at the same time.
The Youngstown participants said a prayer then lined up along Market Street between Princeton and Indianola avenues. They revved their engines and took off for a two-hour ride. Many wore hoodies, as Martin did when he was shot. Following the run, clubs from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Akron met up with them at the Joker’s Wrath to have lunch and show support for the Martin family.
“It’s kind of bad when you get stereotyped for wearing a hoodie, no matter what race you are,” said Dave “Dirdy” Riley, a member of Disconnected MC Motorcycle Club in Youngstown. “A hoodie is a hoodie.”
The club participated in the run because “we believe in the cause to try to help the family out,” Riley said.
Positive events such as the run bring awareness to issues, he said.
“We believe in this, and we always think positive, so I think events like this will bring awareness,” Riley said. “But I don’t want it to be just for African Americans, I want it to be for any [person who gets] killed.”
Tiffany Watson, business manager of Joker’s Wrath, said it was a wonderful event. “I’m very happy with how many people came and supported,” she said. “Even if there would have been one person, I still would have been happy.” About 35 bikers participated.