This past weekend, about 100 members of the Hells Angels were denied access to the Santa Cruz County Fair for wearing their club colors.

We reported last Friday that organizers of the Fair warned them this would happen, and that the motorcycle club threatened to sue if it happened.

So it happened.

This might be a significant turn of events considering the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to reconsider a similar case involving the Top Hatters MC. In that case, the Top Hatters argued that wearing club colors is an expression of free speech. The court originally disagreed, but recently agreed to reconsider.

With the Hells Angels making news on this subject, it might bring this issue into the national spotlight.

We'll see if they sue.

Labels: Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, No Colors Policy

Santa Cruz, CA

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is considering a lawsuit against organizers of the Santa Cruz County Fair, after being told they would be kicked out of the fair if they showed up wearing colors...

http://www.theksbwchannel.com/news/14119681/detail.html

Interestingly, the organizers allowed the club to set up a booth at the fair to sell clothes and other items bearing the club colors.

Gilroy, CA

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted to rehear a case involving the Top Hatters Motorcycle Club and the Gilroy Garlic Festival.

The case involved the organizers of the festival ordering club members out of the event because they showed up wearing their club colors. Read our previous article about this case, "Court Rules that Wearing Club Colors is Not Free Speech".

The court's originaly ruling is that the colors and club insignia didn't meet the definition of "speech"...

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6896229

Labels: Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, Motorcycle Lawsuits, No Colors Policy, Top Hatters Motorcycle Club