Unveiling the Inner Workings of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) has become a global phenomenon, with over 6,000 members spread across 592 charters in 66 countries as of recent data. Founded in California in 1948, the club has expanded internationally since the early 1960s, with New Zealand hosting the first charter outside the United States in 1961.
The club's growth is extensive, encompassing nearly every inhabited continent. Each charter acts as a semi-autonomous entity under the HAMC umbrella, reflecting the global spread of their outlaw motorcycle culture.
However, the HAMC's growth has not been without controversy. The club is often accused by law enforcement agencies of being an organization involved in crime and violence. Allegations include activities such as drugs, prostitution, and intimidation. The book "Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers Empire of Crime" suggests that the Hells Angels have a history of violence against their fellow motorcyclists, police officers, and innocent civilians.
Despite these allegations, the Hells Angels have been known to participate in charity events. For instance, they have been involved in the Toys for Tots donation program.
The club's leader, Ralph "Sonny" Barger, a co-founder of the Oakland, Calif., Hells Angels, spent four years in federal prison after being found guilty of conspiring to blow up a rival group's clubhouse. Barger, who is celebrated by the international media despite the mounting body count, uses the phrase "When we do right nobody remembers, when we do wrong nobody forgets" to summarize the Hells Angels' perspective.
The Hells Angels' official website features a page dedicated to members serving prison time, but it is unclear if they were sentenced for activities related to their membership. The club's history of members serving prison sentences is not always clear from the official website.
In May 2008, a member named Christopher Wayne Hudson pleaded guilty to shooting a man to death after bystanders intervened in a street fight involving Hudson and his girlfriend. The destruction caused by the Hells Angels' drug trade, including the ruining of lives, brain damage, and physical deterioration due to drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine, is another area of concern.
The HAMC's global growth, marked by its extensive network of charters and thousands of members, makes it the most significant international outlaw motorcycle club historically and currently. Despite the controversies surrounding the club, its influence continues to resonate worldwide.
[1] Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.hellsangels.com/ [2] Marsden, W., & Sher, J. (2006). Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers' Empire of Crime. St. Martin's Press. [3] Hells Angels. (2018). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hells-Angels [4] Hells Angels. (2018). In The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/angels [5] Hells Angels. (2018). In The Independent. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/Hells-Angels
- The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club's global influence can be seen in various aspects of life, ranging from general news about their criminal activities to lifestyle features of their international charter events.
- Despite their involvement in crime and justice matters, such as allegations of drugs, prostitution, and intimidation (The Guardian, The Independent), the Hells Angels have also been reported to engage in charitable activities like the Toys for Tots program.
