Lil Mug, Secretary and Public Relations for the St. Louis Chapter Bikers Against Child Abuse®

This month’s CONTACT Partner of the Month, Lil Mug, is the Secretary and Public Relations for the St. Louis Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse® (B.A.C.A.®). Like everyone involved with B.A.C.A.® (even the international president), Lil Mug is a volunteer. And just to clarify, Lil Mug isn’t his given name; it’s his road name! All B.A.C.A.® members keep their identities and affiliation with the organization private (from outsiders, that is…B.A.C.A.® does a full background check and has an intense training program for volunteers).
Lil Mug explains that B.A.C.A.® was founded in 1995 in Provo, Utah by a play therapist who was also a biker. He noticed that children seemed to feel safer around him and other bikers (“big, hairy, ugly dudes,” per Lil Mug). Since the founding of the first program in Provo, B.A.C.A.® has spread to 46 states and 19 countries. There are 13 chapters in Missouri alone.
B.A.C.A.®’s mission is to help abused children feel safer in the world, both in general and in the courtroom when they testify about their abuse. B.A.C.A.® aims to send a clear message that the children they serve are part of their organization, and that B.A.C.A.® members will lend their physical and emotional support and physical presence to shield them from further abuse.
There are several criteria children must meet to be accepted into the program. The kids must be under age 18, the abuse needs to have been reported, and the perpetrator cannot have ongoing access to the child. Once the child is accepted, B.A.C.A.® organizes an introduction, with all chapter members roaring up to the child’s house (or a public space, given the family’s preferences). They give the child their own B.A.C.A.® cut (for the uninitiated, a biker’s “cut” is their vest) with a B.A.C.A.® patch on the back. The kids receive a special backpack, pick out their road name, and go on a (safe! And parent-authorized!) motorcycle ride. At this time, two bikers (“primaries”) are assigned to the child. The primaries stay in close touch with the child, who may call or text them at any time, day or night. This phase is B.A.C.A.®’s level one intervention.
Level two intervention amplifies the bikers’ physical presence in the child’s life. This is helpful in circumstances where a child is extra fearful or the perpetrator is trying to intimidate a child by, perhaps, driving in front of their house or school. In these situations, B.A.C.A.® will station bikers at the child’s house, 24 hours per day, until the threat is over.
When a child is scheduled to testify in court, B.A.C.A.® springs into action again. Several bikers escort the child to court, with half of the bikes in front and the other half behind the family’s car. They form a human wall to block the child’s view of the perpetrator on the way into court. Then they sit on the front row of the courtroom in full biker regalia, showing support for the child and empowering them to tell their story. Lil Mug explains that some judges ask the bikers to remove their biker cuts…but the B.A.C.A.® members are prepared for that. Underneath their cuts, they wear t-shirts that have the same design as the cuts, so that the effect is the same for the child sitting in the witness stand.
When this reporter remarks that this all sounds like quite a bit of work for a group composed solely of volunteers, Lil Mug is quick with his reply. “Seeing the kids smile ear-to-ear after their first ride…seeing the look of relief on these kids’ faces when they get off the stand…that’s our payment.”
To refer a child to B.A.C.A.®, call their 24-hour helpline at 1-866-712-2873. Interested in becoming a B.A.C.A.® member? The best way to show interest is to show up at their monthly meetings. These meetings, which are open to the public, are held on the third Thursday at 7pm. The meeting location is the Arnold VFW, located at 2301 Church Rd., Arnold MO 63010.