Cossacks Battling in the USA!

[peacetraveler22]

American bikers, simply legendary! They're the subject of films, urban myths and play an important theme in American cinema and culture. I'm not sure if this news has made its way to Russia, but this week two Texas biker gangs are at battle, and in a very violent way. A major shootout on the streets of Waco, Texas, during which nine people were killed, dozens injured and the locals in shock and awe that a scene from a Hollywood film became reality in their hometown. Now, over 170 bikers are being detained in Texas, with their bonds set high (over $1,000,000)! But, I'm most curious about the name of one of these gangs - COSSACKS. Why did they pick it, or what is the significance to biking culture? About Cossacks, I never understood their role in modern Russia, or its security forces. I wrote about it in my Sochi post, where they stood as guards at various places during the Olympics, as in the following picture.



About American bikers, tens of thousands of them currently are on the way to Washington, DC for the annual "Rolling Thunder" event, held over the Memorial Day holiday weekend (which begins on Friday). I've already told you about these charitable and friendly bikers in this post. In my photo below, they look scary but in reality most bikers I've encountered are just normal, friendly folks with an intense passion for motorcycles. Just a rough looking exterior, with their long beards and leather jackets. :)



What is the correlation between Cossacks and American biker gangs? Remains a mystery to me...Perhaps it's just a reference to toughness or a "warrior" mentality. About the recent battle between the Cossacks and Bandidos biker gangs, you can read here. I'm completely ignorant on the subject of biker wars or violence, so you will have to research this topic on your own, if curious.