Hollister riot

Common card · No. 305052

The Hollister riot, also known as the Hollister Invasion, was an event that occurred at the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)-sanctioned Gypsy Tour motorcycle rally in Hollister, California, from July 3 to 6, 1947. More motorcyclists than expected flooded the small town to watch the annual rallies, as well as socialize and drink. A few of the motorcyclists caused a commotion in the town. The incident, known afterward as the Hollister riot, was sensationalized by the press with reports of bikers "taking over the town" and "pandemonium" in Hollister. The strongest dramatization of the event was a photo of a drunken man sitting on a motorcycle, possibly staged by the photographer by surrounding the scene with discarded beer bottles. It was published in Life magazine, and it brought national attention and negative opinion to the event. The Hollister riot helped to give rise to the outlaw biker image.

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