Muslim And Motorcyclist Groups Apply For September 11 Permits in Washington With One Being Denied [VIDEO]

Wednesday marks the 12th anniversary of the worst act of terrorism on U.S. soil to date. There is also controversy broiling in Washington D.C. on groups participating in marches on the city, namely, the Muslin March and the '2 Million Bikers To D.C.' event. One was granted a permit and one was not.  

Updated Tuesday the 10th at 5:18 PM to include an email sent  to all PGR members on their participation:

An event called TWO MILLION BIKERS TO D.C. is occurring Wednesday, 11 September in our nation's capitol. Many have asked about PGR participation. The Patriot Guard Riders will NOT be participating in this event. The PGR is not a protest group or a counter protest group. The PGR does not conduct missions in support of or opposition to any political position. This is longstanding PGR policy which we feel must be maintained for the sake of our primary mission. The PGR conducts Missions to honor our fallen. The event in Washington lies outside the boundaries of our mission. Any PGR member who chooses to ride in this event is free to do so as an individual but not as a member of the Patriot Guard Riders.  The leadership of the Patriot Guard Riders requests that members attending not display PGR flags, patches, pins, windshield banners or decals.

All eyes will be on our Nation's Capitol this Wednesday. As many as 3 million people will converge on the city as we remember the events that unfolded 12 years ago on September 11th.

The Muslim community will again be doing their event, now known as the Million American March Against Fear rally (formerly known as the 'Million Muslim March') this Wednesday and were eagerly granted a permit long ago.

This year, the motorcycle community also wanted to do an event so the '2 Million Bikers To D.C.' was put together, but the powers in Washington turned down their request for a 'no-stop' permit which would have allowed the group to ride through our Capitol in parade formation with controlled intersections.

Organizers issued the following statement this past Sunday to the residents of Washington D.C.,

We did the right thing and went through the proper channels to secure a no-stop permit to ride through your great city. We wanted to ride an established route, which would have taken us past the Vietnam Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial, across the bridge into Virginia, and that’s it! We would have been completely out of Washington DC, and your city would have been back to normal.

I have to agree, not just as a motorcycle enthusiast but as an American citizen. What was the point of turning them down and saying no?  Manpower?  The group will ride regardless but now the ride will take most of the day, or, all day!  I for one will be watching the news tomorrow with full anticipation of an incredible event and now that they have been turned down a permit, thousands who probably weren't going to do the ride, now will, just to make a point.  I never believed 2 million bikes would make the D.C. trip, but now, it just may happen.

For the record, at the time of this story, the Million American March Against Fear (MAMAF) had garnered 225 “likes” on Facebook, and the 2 Million Bikers to DC had gained 96,041. I for one know all too well that likes or commitments on an event page mean nothing so we'll see how many actually do what they say they will and show up tomorrow.