ABATE Considers Ending Red River Rally Boycott
It was a statement that many felt needed to be made, but time moves ahead and sometimes you just have to let it go.
At the request of ABATE of Colorado‘s southern districts, the group’s long-standing boycott of the Red River Rally, in Red River, NM, may be coming to an end.
The boycott was agreed upon following a fatal crash during the 2004 rally and the aftermath of that incident. A 15-year-old boy, without a driver’s license, was playing chicken with a friend and ran head-on into two motorcycles carrying four people. Two of the four died and one was severely injured, losing a leg among other injuries. The four were all Coloradans and ABATE members.
Authorities in Taos County, where the incident occurred, chose only to order the boy into counseling, levied a $175 fine, and allowed him to keep his learner’s permit. That was too much to take, and ABATE voted to institute the boycott. The idea was to stop Colorado dollars from bolstering the economy in the Red River area by keeping Colorado riders away from the rally.
According to Terry Howard, state coordinator for ABATE of Colorado, the boycott was reasonably effective the first year but each year less so. Now, the southern districts feel that continuing the boycott is hindering their efforts to attract members, and they have asked that it be ended. Each ABATE district has been asked to vote on whether they agree with the move, and the matter will then be decided at the next state board meeting.
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Tags: Red River Rally
December 20th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
I’m a man of forgiveness and realize that I have done alot of wrong and in need of forgiveness but to hear the unjustice in this case makes me instantly angry. I support the boycott and see another example of just how unjust the JUSTICE system can be. We still live in the greatest nation on Earth but man we could use some help in so many areas!
Love your blog brother!!
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