Nine Hells Angels were denied entry to the Ventura County Fair on Wednesday evening after refusing to remove black leather vests emblazoned with the trademark winged skull of their motorcycle club.
Stopped at a side entrance, the bikers were told by a security guard their clothing violated a fair policy that bans gang attire.
The guard told George Christie Jr., president of the local Hells Angels chapter, and his associates that they would have to remove any clothing bearing the name of their group to enter the fairgrounds.
"I want to exercise my rights as a United States citizen," Christie responded.
Holding up two tickets, for himself and the 9 1/2-year-old daughter of his fiancee, Christie asked, "You will not accept these tickets?"
Security guard Mike Priester then handed Christie a copy of the fair's dress code policy and again told him he could not come through the gate unless he removed the clothing bearing the Angels insignia.
As he walked away from the fairgrounds, Christie called the policy unconstitutional and said he will file a lawsuit challenging it.
"I take offense," he said. "We are not a street gang, we are a motorcycle club.... We are going to seek legal action."
Ventura attorney Kay Duffy, who had walked with the Hells Angels and a few of their family members from the group's nearby clubhouse to the fairgrounds, said she had hoped fair organizers would back down from the policy and allow the Angels inside.
"The next step is the court system," she said.
Fair spokesman Devlin Raley said organizers had no choice but to turn Christie and company away.
The dress policy aims to create a safe atmosphere for families to enjoy the fair, said Raley, adding that it will be enforced during the 12-day fair that began on Wednesday.
"They chose not to comply with the dress code. It was a challenge of the policy and the policy was enforced," Raley said, adding that the conversation with the Angels at the gate was peaceful.
Concerned about gang violence, the fair board recently approved a tighter policy on gang attire.
The policy specifically prohibits anyone wearing clothing, visible tattoos or other articles bearing the name or insignia of a criminal street gang from entering the fairgrounds.
It does not ban the wearing of specific colors or sports team logos unless clothing has been altered to symbolize a gang.
