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Posted by Troll
- October 12, 2014, 18:29:08 PMAlthough this is not the "birthday party" some had expected, it was a pretty good weekend. 40 years ago, ABATE of WI. was founded. We are and always have been, a "Biker's Rights" organization. At the time, there were many ABATE state chapters being formed, and they all had the same goal. The acronym "ABATE" stands for A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments....ie arbitrary laws infringing on our rights as free people. I am proud to say, WE are the only State ABATE to truly maintain that position and attitude. The other state organizations have changed the acronym to mean a brotherhood aimed toward education...certainly NOT what the original idea was...ANYWAY....every year, in the fall, we have a State meeting and some kind of a season wrap up party, state elections every 2 years, etc. ANY member is welcome to attend ANY board or committee meeting anytime, but they are all invited to this one. I am now starting on my 36th year as a member. I was a member of an earlier group, the Wisconsin Better Bikers Association, before joining ABATE in 1979. Here are a few pictures from the History tour we took around Madison, the State Capitol. They are mainly centered around the anti mandatory helmet law protests of 1975-1977 when we put as many as 50,000 riders in the Capitol to protest. I was there...No one could adequately describe the scene...literally miles of chrome, bikes riding 4 abreast down E. Washington AVE, and every street around the Capitol with bikes parked handlebar to handle bar, 4 deep on any curb there was...The 5th picture is that of one of the patriarchs of the movement, ex State Senator Dave Zien...you may have heard of him...