Hundreds of bikers affiliated with the Hells Angels rode through the Toronto area Thursday in memory of a member who recently died.
The procession began in Newmarket, Ontario at 9 a.m. ET and traveled south on Highway 404 to the Don Valley Parkway before heading east on Lake Shore Boulevard East, ending at a location on Carlaw Avenue. The event passed peacefully.
Motorcyclists were reported to be riding in Donnie Petersen’s honor.
Toronto police said at a press conference Wednesday that they were preparing for an “unsanctioned” Hells Angel motorcycle rally, meaning the group did not receive a permit for the event from the city.
The motorists were driving south on the 404 freeway before reaching the Don Valley Parkway. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Police say the Hells Angels have told them they will have a memorial ride and gathering in the city on Thursday in memory of one of their members.
“This march will inevitably cause traffic disruptions in our city,” said Toronto Police Chief Sgt. Scott Baptiste told reporters on Wednesday. “We have no information to indicate that they intend to do anything other than participate in the commemorative ride followed by a gathering.”
The bikers eventually converged on Carlaw Avenue for a memorial gathering honoring Donnie Petersen. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Police said Carlaw Avenue, between Lake Shore Boulevard East and Eastern Avenue, will be closed from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
As they rode through Toronto, CBC News captured several photos of the procession.
Police said they were monitoring the procession with officers in the area.
It’s a lot of bike pic.twitter.com/iFJmoLUVQt
—@PatMorrell_CBC
“We have a command post set up in the area and we are in constant communication with this group to find out exactly what they intend to do,” Baptiste said.
Biker expert Peter Edwards, who has been following and reporting on the Hells Angels for some time, says it’s akin to a PR event for the biker group.
“They want to look good. They don’t want to draw bad attention to themselves,” said the Toronto Star journalist. The goal: “Try to look tough and respectable at the same time.”
Another view from Thursday’s memorial for Petersen in Toronto. (Evan Mitsui/CBC) Some bikers were seen wearing T-shirts designed in honor of Donnie Petersen. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Earlier this week, Durham Police noted that the motorcycle club was an organized crime group responsible for drug and human trafficking, among other crimes. Calling the biker group “more of an association,” Edwards says the once racist, white-only organization has evolved over the years and the Toronto march will be different.
“In California, they were an all-white club. They are not now. They now have charters in Asia. They have a lot of non-white members.”
Biker expert Peter Edwards says the Hells Angels are an “association” of “many different groups”. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
“I guess Toronto is a little more consolidated, but there are a lot of different groups,” Edwards added.
His advice to onlookers is “don’t touch the bikes”. Besides, he doesn’t expect any problems.
Toronto Police will update the status of road closures throughout the day.
The bikers stopped in east Toronto before heading to Durham on Thursday. (Evan Mitsui/CBC) A drone shot of Hells Angels bikers gather at Eastern Avenue and Carlo Avenue in Toronto after their parade through the city on Thursday. (Patrick Morrell/CBC News) Toronto police said Carlaw Avenue remains closed between Eastern Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East. (Patrick Morrell/CBC News)
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