The Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA), a statewide nonprofit that sanctions bicycle races, took disciplinary action Wednesday against a rider who competed at a cyclocross event on Sunday at Rainier High School.
According reports from sources who’ve reached out to BikePortland, a rider in the Category 2/3 field of the Cyclocross Crusade event wore a shirt and hat emblazoned with messages related to conspiracy theories about the vaccine, government overreach, the Holocaust, and so on. Here’s an image taken from the race that clearly shows the rider and jersey in question (that was posted to Twitter by @heyzell).
“At this race, someone was allowed to race while displaying two hand drawn swastikas on the back of their shirt, as well as other forms of false information,” the poster wrote. “@oregonbikeracing claims that they want to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all cyclists, especially those of historically marginalized communities. These actions do not line up with these proposed values.”
Another reader who emailed us about this today said, “Our racing community has always been a cocoon and safe place we take for granted.”
One person who contacted us said they saw the shirt. “He’s been at a few [Cylcocross] Crusade races with the same weird outfits that say nonsense about vaccines and QAnon and stuff.” We’ve also heard that the same rider wore a shirt that said “Fire Fauci” at the Cyclocross Crusade race two weekends ago in Cascade Locks.
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The rider (whose name I’m not going to share here at this time) is a long-time OBRA member and racer with results going back as far as 2001.
Yesterday, OBRA Executive Director Chuck Kenlan issued a statement saying the group had taken disciplinary action. Here’s that statement:
“I am writing to you this evening to discuss an incident that took place at an OBRA race last weekend. An OBRA member and racer drew a symbol of hate on the shirt worn during the race. Although this came to us without first-hand knowledge or evidence, we finally got confirmation of it this morning. I want to thank all of the OBRA community that alerted us to this and for the people that captured photos that confirmed the action. The race organizers and officials try their best but can’t always spot things like this. This action was a clear violation of OBRA’s Code of Conduct and disciplinary action was taken:
OBRA, the Cyclocross Crusade, and all of our race promoters strongly believe that our events must be places where every person feels safe and accepted. OBRA does not stand with Nazis, or other hate groups and will not tolerate hate speech or symbols at our events.
OBRA is not perfect. The organization is made up of a dedicated volunteer board of directors and a hard-working, part-time staff. We are also made up of you, our community that expects the best of us. OBRA allows you to have a say in how we are governed by electing our board of directors and developing rules to help govern racing and the administration of the organization. We are constantly striving to be better and create an inclusive environment where every person that wants to race a bike feels safe and accepted.”
This isn’t the first time Crusade officials have gotten into hot water for a hate symbol. In 2017 they briefly released, and then retracted, a new logo that some people found offensive because it looked too much like a Celtic cross that is a popular symbol for white supremacy groups.
It’s also worth noting that the organizers behind the popular cyclocross race series have worked to de-emphasize the “cross” and “crusade” aspects of their brand, given the religious connotations of both. They’ve altered their logo to make it look less like a religious cross and have changed the official name of the series from Cross Crusade to Cyclocross Crusade.
I’ve asked Kenlan for more details on the action taken and will update this post when/if we hear back.
CORRECTION, 11/12 at 9:40 am: The initial version of this story said the rider wrote “Kill Fauci” on his shirt. We’ve been given new evidence that confirms the shirt said, “Fire Fauci”. I regret the error.
UPDATE, 1:30 pm: Kenlan says, “At this point we are keeping this internal. We are working with the board, staff and DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] committee to come to a resolution around this very serious violation of the OBRA Code of Conduct.”
UPDATE, 3:05 pm: Rick Potestio from the Cyclocross Crusade says they have sent the rider a letter, “informing him that he is in violation of our Code of Conduct and is banned from further participation in the race series. He is also banned from the two remaining venues: the Portland International Raceway and Barton Park.”
Saw an update on the OBRA forums, the initial short suspension was apparently the most that the Executive Director could do without involving the board. They have now convened an emergency board meeting, the outcome of which is a suspension for the offending rider for the 2022 season and a clear communication that there will be zero tolerance for any further code of conduct violations from this person the penalty at that point being a lifetime ban. I am glad to see that they seem to be taking it seriously.
Hi Bjorn, it’s Joe from Stumptown Cycling. Thanks for the note and update. Hope all is well.
Looking at the image captured by @bolognamologna I’m confused as to how this person’s attire was not put under more scrutiny, even more so with the known call for violence seen at a previous event, and not called out by surrounding participants. I understand races can be chaotic, but this is a teachable moment for everyone in attendance or with plans to attend future events. This person probably wanted to make a scene, and was likely primed for confrontation, but that is no excuse to turn a blind eye.
“Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men.”
People are allowed to express their beliefs. I have seen people at races loudly (visually loud) express many different points of view, both right and left. This is fine, expression is good. However, once it gets attacking or aggressive it is too far and time to step in. I think OBRA did a good job handling this.
Though, I personally prefer it if politics and cycling are kept well separated. I just want to race my bike.
Might we assume that NORBA receives no government funding whatsoever and it isn’t governed by the US Constitution and the first amendment? Even hate speech (and thus symbols on jerseys) is legal in this country.
Norba hasn’t existed for two decades…
Not only is hate speech protected (not threats though), but it is one of the main types of speech protected by the Constitution. There is no need to protect speech that everyone agrees with.
This story is ironic. In Newberg schools we have 1/2 the people upset that they can’t display their favorite political symbols, and in this story, at a school in Rainier, we have that same 1/2 of the people upset that someone did display their favorite political symbols.
“Favorite political symbols” is a telling way for you to describe swastikas. Is that all you think they are? And you think only “1/2 the people” feel that displaying swastikas is out of line?
Are you the racer from this story?
It wasn’t all that long ago that symbols for marijuana and gay pride were banned in schools and other public venues. I still meet (probably “conservative”) people who feel threatened by such symbols, a bit like statues of dead white nasty slave owners like Lee, Jefferson, and Washington feel threatening to African-Americans (and many others).
One difference is that racism is (at least ostensibly and in concept) out of bounds per the nation’s founding documents. Those other things are out of bounds in some religions’ holy books. Lots of people don’t seem to grasp the difference between the founding documents and the holy books.
A pride flag isn’t political.
Neither is a BLM flag.
I saw several instagram stories from people hollering at the individual to get out of there with the hate speech and saying that they (the individual) wasn’t welcome there. I’m not sure what else you hope they do?
I have not seen those, only the image from bologna and this. Thanks for sharing, that’s quite reassuring.
They should be careful doing that. It is harassment, and could easily rise to be assault if they make threats.
Thank you for protecting Mr. Swastika. Very brave.
Thanks OBRA for doing as you say.
Lining up behind this guy suuuuucked. I’m glad it won’t be something I have to think about for the last couple of crusade races this series but maybe it should have happened sooner.
UPDATE, 3:05 pm: Rick Potestio from the Cyclocross Crusade says they have sent the rider a letter, “informing him that he is in violation of our Code of Conduct and is banned from further participation in the race series. He is also banned from the two remaining venues: the Portland International Raceway and Barton Park.”
Good job. Cancel anyone who doesn’t agree with your political views. Do you know what the word fascist means?
You are way off base here David. Showing up to a bike race with a swastika is vile and should not be tolerated. This person was a participant in a private event. They must follow the rules laid out by the organizers. If the OBRA rules are insufficiently clear on the hate speech and display of symbols of hate, they should be changed immediately.
You should acquaint yourself with what the right to free speech does protect and what it does not.
Curious how OBRA’s code of conduct applies to a race series named after the violent historical event where white Europeans waged a centuries-long holy war against Muslims in God’s name? I wonder how welcome Muslim participants feel at an event with such a name?
Good point, Zack. I have wondered that very same thing.
Just FYI and FWIW they did make an intentional choice a few years ago to stop calling it “Cross Crusade” and started using “Cyclocross Crusade” for that exact reason AFAIK. They also tried to strip out the cross symbol from their branding. I’d have to ask around to get confirmation of the details, but that’s what I recall. They do still have a “grail hunt” https://crosscrusade.com/grail-hunt/
Oh, and there was this story from 2017 when they retracted a logo because some folks said it looked too much like a white supremacy symbol https://bikeportland.org/2017/09/01/cross-crusade-retracts-new-logo-after-negative-community-feedback-241162
“Crusade” and “cross” both come from Latin “crux,” so the name is a redundant pun on the multiple meanings of “cross.” Could be considered ironically humorous in a Monty Python kind of way, but yeah — could do with a rebrand.
Where does OBRA get the legal authority to ban this guy from what I believe are public spaces? Kind of a stretch, seems to me.
I think it’s the Crusade that has technically banned him from venues. OBRA hasn’t said publicly what exactly they are doing. Either way, they have every right to do that because they hold a permit for the venues. Also, at least in the case of PIR, I’m sure Portland Parks and Rec would back them up if necessary.
Just seeing you use the shorthand “Crusade” above shows to me why the event organizers should re-think their branding.
Yeah it’s not easy for them I imagine because it is literally known as “the Crusade”. They’d lose so much name recognition of they dropped that. Also worth noting that they’ve actually just dropped any cross at all from their branding. The start/finish banners at races no longer have a logo and they don’t show a logo on their website.
I’ve always thought their use of the word “crusade” showed a clear ignorance of history but since I don’t race under their banner it didn’t seem like my fight. About branding: is cyclocross in Portland such a hard sell that they need to keep a confusing association with centuries-old violent religious conflicts in which a lot of unarmed civilians were killed?
As a promoter of dozens of OBRA events, you have no idea what you are talking about. OBRA has permits to hold events on public property. Having dealt with many government entities, none of my permits ever gave me permission beyond conducting my event on their property. They said nothing about the conduct of the non-participating public. This, along with your incendiary report about his so-called ‘kill Fauci’ shirt, seriously call into question your reporting capabilities.
Thanks for the feedback Steve!
btw I apologize (sorta) for my tone. But, the Fauci reference to me is just about as damaging as the use of the swastika and I was sensing uninformed lynch mob behavior.
“They (the permits) said nothing about the conduct of the non-participating public.”
But doesn’t the article say this involved a participant?
You also said, “None of my permits ever gave me permission beyond conducting my event on their property.” Having rules about what competitors wear certainly falls under “conducting an event”. If it were a soccer game in a public park, certainly the league or referee could exclude a player from the field for wearing something with a message, or for wearing the wrong color of socks for that matter.
You missed the whole point; this thread was about banning the guy from physically being at the venue in the future, not whether or not he could race again.
If they’re public spaces being used for a private, permitted event that’ a different situation though, right?
I would think so. You’re on public property. Constitutional protections should apply, right?
Yes. I put on events on the streets of Portland, Gresham, and cyclocross events in Portland Parks. The only authority that I had over non-participants was preventing them from entering the race course, for the safety of the public and the racers, of course. btw I have never actually seen the subject jersey; none of the links to pictures have worked for me.
Not all school grounds are public property that can be freely accessed at any time (many have hours posted when the public can’t use the property). PIR is owned by the city of Portland, but that doesn’t mean one is free to use it when/how ever they like.
Where are you seeing that he is “banned from a public space”? He can certainly show up to the venue, but he won’t be able to race.
No OBRA rents the venues and is allowed control over who can come onto the grounds during events and they were quite clear in the communication this evening that the rider who was suspended is not allowed to be present for any events during their suspension.
If what you say is true, then things have changed a lot since my promoting days (80s and 90s). I never paid a dime for park use. I did pay multiple fees to the City of Portland for cops, sound variance, and a permit fee. But, the permit fee was for processing costs, it was never construed by me or the City as a Rental fee. And, I always knew that I had to respect the rights of non-participants, with the exception of allowing them onto the race course itself.
FYI:
CORRECTION, 11/12 at 9:40 am: The initial version of this story said the rider wrote “Kill Fauci” on his shirt. We’ve been given new evidence that confirms the shirt said, “Fire Fauci”. I regret the error.
Thanks Jon.
This update and Peter’s information about participants not remaining silent at the event certainly shed light on the public response and following actions by ORBA and CXC. The response from some certainly has me standing behind my initial words, hopefully those that see the actions of the aforementioned rider as an expression of free speech and apparently not that big of a deal can someday learn the damages of hate speech, even when passive, without needing to experience the harm from it first hand.
And who gets to decide what is “hate speech”? You? Me? Jonathan? Police? Mayor? Governor? A committee? Victims of it?
Is it just fascist symbols? Someone says they don’t like a group? I don’t like professional sports personalities and say it. Is that hate speech? A rabid Blazer fine might call it hateful. Do I get arrested?
If you and others don’t like what the person was saying then great, speak up. But as distateful as it was it would be free speech in a public space. The organization can make it’s own rules on what it allows or doesn’t allow. Heck, I might get excluded because I don’t like pro-athletes.
We have to be very very careful about any restrictions that are places on people’s free speech rights in public places. Look how the far left and far right have been trying to shut down people’s ability to speech freely. That, in my opinion, is what we need to fight against.
Off my soapbox now.
Just so we’re clear here: You’re opposed to private organizations banning the display of swastikas at their private events? And if so, why?
I don’t think your example of speaking against Blazers is quite analogous to displaying the symbol of a group that waged war and murdered millions for the sake of racist nationalism.
In societies where they don’t have free speech (Soviet Union, China, etc) hundreds of millions have been killed by their governments. Be careful what you wish for – you might get it.
OBRA in 2021: censoring swastikas at a private race event.
OBRA in 2025: Genocide?
Seems logical.
In that case, his shirt was spot on! Fauci should be fired. ‘Muricans are not big fans of animal cruelty:
https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/medical-advances/578086-bipartisan-legislators-demand-answers-from-fauci
Same story. Different website (has less intrusive ads):
https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/fauci-funded-cruel-puppy-experiments-where-sand-flies-eat-them-alive-vocal-cords-severed
See https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/comment?id=10.1371/annotation/1031dec6-9843-42ae-8b42-bc6eee0f2e21: “The US National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust did not provide any funding for this research and any such claim was made in error.”
The amount of people defending a man’s right to wear a swastika to a bike race is astonishing. He has no “constitutional right” to do that at an OBRA-permitted event where the event organizer has a written code of conduct they require from all paying (and licensed) participants. When his shirt was just covered in anti-vax messaging at earlier races, people rolled their eyes but he was allowed to participate. He wasn’t “canceled.” But then he upped the ante to include swastikas. Why? Because the point of this isn’t some lofty defense of personal liberty, it’s to stir up conflict. I wish you had to explain your defense of his “right” to wear swastikas to just one of the 418,500 Americans who died in WWII.
The original link I shared to the image was to an IG account that has since been made private. The image has been posted to Twitter here.
Thanks for posting that. Just curious, the swastika seems to be part of a statement of some kind. Just trying to get some context for its use.
Could you remove the outline so we can read the wording of statement. It appears that the swastika is used as an adjective, but hard to tell. Thanks