Rolling Thunder says 2019 motorcycle rally will be its last in D.C.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Fri Dec 14, 2018, 10:56 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Washington Post

Local

Rolling Thunder says 2019 motorcycle rally will be its last in D.C.

By Justin Wm. Moyer
December 13 at 3:45 PM

A massive annual motorcycle rally staged in Washington will end next year, with organizers citing a lack of law enforcement cooperation and "increased harassment to supporters" as reasons for stopping the 31-year-old tradition.

Rolling Thunder began in Washington in 1987 after Artie Muller, who served in the Vietnam War as an infantry sergeant, sought to call attention to veterans in need and prisoners of war.

In a statement Thursday, Muller said Rolling Thunder XXXII, scheduled for 2019's Memorial Day weekend, would be "the final Thunder Run in D.C."

"As a result of changing times the organization and Mission needed to be reorganized and reevaluated," the statement said. "Reasons which determined our decision were the Pentagon Security Police/Washington Police officials continued lack of cooperation, increased harassment to our supporters and sponsors."
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rolling-thunder-says-2019-motorcycle-rally-will-be-its-last-in-dc/2018/12/13/d2dccfac-ff03-11e8-88f2-79568e0735fb_story.html

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Everything Trump touches....

Hat tip, Fox5DC, channel 5 in DC. I caught the story on their 8:00 news last night, which they show on Channel 20.

2019 will be Rolling Thunder's last ride, official says

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/2019-will-be-rolling-thunders-last-ride-official-says

[liberal N proud]

1. They had become part of Memorial Day in DC

I am neither a biker or biker wannabe, but I have been in DC for several
Memorial Days and they are part of it.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

2. This is disturbing.

I would really like to know more about this. If you have even been to DC on Memorial Day and seen this awesome and peaceful assembly of motorcycles in support of veterans and peace, it's a sight you will never be able to forget. It really does sound like "rolling thunder."

I am saddened to hear that this will be the last year.

[Raine]

3. That's a shame

but I don't see what Trump's role in this was since it seems to have to with the Pentagon, he knows nothing about anything.

[nitpicker]

4. Mixed emotions

Pro: after next year, there will be no motorcycle masses clogging the local highways.

Con: It's a shame they felt they had to pull the plug.

[FSogol]

5. This probably has more to do with the youngest Vietnam Vets being 61 years old now.

I had a crappy neighbor that had a Harley and would go join Rolling Thunder "with all the other Vets" (his exact words).

Problem was, he was 10 years old during the Vietnam War and just pretending to be a vet.

Some things get too big and no longer become fun or no longer serve their intended purpose.

[MrScorpio]

6. I was there for the very first one

It was pretty impressive.