Acquainted With The Night

by Robert Frost

Bikers Against Child Abuse

Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) is a non-profit organization operating in 46 U.S. states and 9 countries. Their sole purpose is to empower abused children, and they do so by providing them the physical and emotional support that family members and therapists are unable to.

There's a wonderful article by reporter Karina Bland that you can read in its entirety on azcentral.com, and I highly recommend that you do - it's a touching, heart-warming tale of these bikers and the good they do in the lives of frightened chilren, standing guard against their abusers and their nightmares.

Here's just an excerpt from the article - follow the link for the rest (and photos!):

"The biker image is what makes this work," says Rembrandt, 54, who is tall and wiry strong. "Golfers against child abuse does not have the same feel. The pink alligator shirt and golf shoes standing in the driveway doesn't do the same thing."

(No offense to golfers. Some bikers golf, too.)

What Rembrandt knows is that a biker's power and intimidating image can even the playing field for a little kid who has been hurt. If the man who hurt this little girl calls or drives by, or even if she is just scared, another nightmare, the bikers will ride over and stand guard all night.

If she is afraid to go to school, they will take her and watch until she's safely inside.

And if she has to testify against her abuser in court, they will go, too, walking with her to the witness stand and taking over the first row of seats. Pipes will tell her, "Look at us, not him." And when she's done, they will circle her again and walk her out.

Belle Starr

Shed not for her the bitter tear
Nor give the heart to vain regret,
'Tis but the casket that lies here,
The gem that fills it sparkles yet.

The above poem is the epitaph on the tombstone of Belle Starr, the "Bandit Queen". A notorious American outlaw and leader of a band of cattle and horse thieves in the Oklahoma Territory, Belle Starr (born Myra Maybelle Shirley) married three different bandits and associated with other outlaw bands, most notoriously the James-Younger Gang (of which the most (in)famous member is probably Jesse James). A quote by her reads, "I am a friend to any brave and gallant outlaw."