In the event the rider is separated from the motorcycle at speed, leather provides the best abrasion resistance of any fabric. Black is the most common color, by far and away (and also the cheapest).
The vest is an additional layer over the torso, but also provides a convenient place to put name tags, patches, and pins expressing opinion, lauding a particular brand of motorcycle, membership in organizations from the American Motorcyclists' Association and the MRF to state organizations such as ABATE, individual clubs, commemorating the passing of friends ("in memory of..."), and club affiliations. American flags patches are common on these vests, and in this neck of the woods, Canadian flags, or the two together with the flagstaffs crossed and the staff of the home country in front. If it is Canada, the expression is one of good will and solidarity with the US as well as vice-versa.
Bikers tend to be fiercely patriotic, and a high percentage of the bikers I have known are veterans or active duty service members, either in the Armed Forces or National Guard(50%+). There are entire clubs composed of veterans.
The back of the vest is commonly reserved for a club logo, or in the case of independents (who have no club affiliation), often the logo of a particular manufacturer.
None of these things, in and of themselves denotes criminal activity, and all are expressions guaranteed under the First Amendment.
So, to which insignia do you refer? The arrests at Waco were made without reference to club affiliation.
No one said everyone present was on the fast-track for beatification, but even the worst offender has certain Constitutional Rights, and especially for those who had no criminal records, the violation of those rights is ridiculously apparent.
The caution is this: That no matter who is the focus, those Rights must be maintained or we will ALL lose them. Equal Protection Under the Law is not something to be trifled with. If there are known criminals present, then arrest them and let the others go. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time until sections of freeway are carpet bombed to eliminate some thought criminal, regardless of who else is driving there at the time.
“The arrests at Waco were made without reference to club affiliation.”
LOL! The were absolutely made with reference to club affiliations.
” American flags patches are common on these vests”
Show me the American Flags ....
https://coxrare.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/screen-shot-2015-05-19-at-4-26-25-pm.png?w=891
