Hundreds Of Bikers Ride For Black Lives Matter In East Orange

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Escorted by East Orange police, hundreds of bikers roared into City Hall Plaza and kneeled in silence for George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement on Sunday.

East Orange native Marvin "Duke" Battle organized the “Ride For Justice” to support not just the Black Lives Matter movement, but also local law enforcement officers, city officials said.

According to Battle, Sunday's ride was an opportunity to bring dozens of motorcycle groups together for one cause: unity through peace. With their police escort, the bikers rode from Sussex Avenue Mall to City Hall, where they knelt for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time a police officer kneeled on Floyd’s neck.

When the demonstration ended, dozens of men and women headed to Soul Food Factory and Stage 5 Grill and Restaurant to support two black-owned businesses in East Orange.

The ride inspired a wave of positive comments on a city social media post. Seen online:

• “I was on Main Street in Orange when the drove by. Very peaceful. Most of them put their black power fists up while blowing their horns. Put a smile on my face.”
• “This is so incredible!”
• “My city better than yours, but we have room, come get some love.”

“It was a blessing to be a part of this movement today with my MC community,” one of the participants wrote online. “I love my city of East Orange. All of us bikers felt the love as we rode through, we see you much love.”

“Bikers from all over met in East Orange, NJ and rode together in a peaceful protest to Newark,” another rider wrote, sharing photos of the event. “We gathered and took a knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Then peacefully departed. No riots, no violence!”

• See related article: Angels On Wheels: Newark Bikers Roar Into Special Needs Teen's Life
• See related article: Livingston Bikers Building Up Community One Good Deed At A Time

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