Let the good guys roll

The countdown to Sept. 11 commemoration demonstrations by patriotic bikers versus a fringe Muslim “truther” group is taking shape, and despite some confusion about the technicalities, the court of popular opinion isn’t even close:

Let the good guys roll.

Denied a permit by the nation’s capital for a special “non-stop” ride through town with a waiver for red lights, stop signs and other traffic controls, organizers of the “2 Million Bikers to DC” ride to remember 9/11 are undeterred.

Just riding on a public street doesn’t take any special permission after all, even if you have a million people doing it. They just sought the permit to make life easier on the city’s residents and businesses.

So the ride will go on. It’s just going to take a little longer.

“We find this regretful for the residents and businesses of that great city, and humbly offer our apologies,” organizers wrote on Facebook Saturday. “What could have been a one or two hour ride through will now likely be an all-day event. We will be obeying all laws. We will be stopping at all stoplights, stop signs, and yielding to all pedestrians.”

The ride’s route won’t be posted in advance, but the lineup is set to begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Harley Davidson of Washington (9402 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, Md.) with a blessing, Pledge of Allegiance and guest speakers.

Kickstands go up at 11 a.m. The exact route was withheld for security reasons, but should be announced later Monday.

Meanwhile, Muslims have a permit, but how much of a protest is tough to predict.

The American Muslim Political Action Committee announced Saturday it had received a permit for the misleadingly labeled Million Americans Against Fear demonstration – formerly known as the Million Muslim March – to go ahead Wednesday on the National Mall.

It also announced it had received a commitment from U.S. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus to speak at the event.

However, the demonstration has drawn little support from better known Muslim groups and will likely be dwarfed by the bikers in the streets.

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