A trio of white nationalist bikers thought they were “doing the most good” by volunteering as Salvation Army bell ringers at an Indiana Walmart this holiday season. Their presence left customers less than jolly, however, and sparked a flurry of complaints.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, members of the Hells Angels Northwest Indiana Region Motorcycle Club posed alongside the well-known red Salvation Army bucket and signage outside a Walmart in Valparaiso on Saturday. Two men and a woman in the picture were seen sporting offensive patches on their leather jackets, including one that read “Aryan” and a Confederate flag patch.
The Hells Angels members are no longer allowed to volunteer with the Salvation Army after violating the organization’s dress code. (Facebook screenshot)
“Thank you Valparaiso for showing your support for our less fortunate neighbors,” the group wrote on Facebook. “You’ve helped us fill 6 buckets fulla cash! Big thanks to the Salvation Army for the opportunity to help our community.”
In a Friday post, the motorcycle club announced it would be bell ringing and collecting donations outside the store from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Walmart representative said the volunteers were asked to leave, however, after customers complained about their attire.
“As soon as this was brought to our attention we asked the Salvation Army Bell Ringers to leave,” a company spokesman told CBS Chicago in a statement. “We made the Salvation Army aware and they apologized.”
The retail giant continued, “The Salvation Army is responsible for screening its volunteers stationed outside our stores. We have had a long history of supporting the Salvation Army and regret this isolated incident.”
After the post went viral, the woman seen in the photo tried to flip the script by playing victim.
“That’s the profiling bullshit we all have to deal with all the time you’re no better than anybody else,” she wrote in response to the news. “What you all are doing is a form of bullying. And profiling.”
In a statement, The Salvation Army of Porter County said the Hells Angels members had violated the organization’s dress code policy and, as a result, would not be allowed to volunteer in the future.
“Our commitment to nondiscrimination includes a dress code for bell ringers, requiring that they wear red Salvation Army aprons, and making it clear that no ‘symbol, marking or lettering that is viewed as discrimination’ may be worn,” Lt. Christopher Nicolai said, adding that he was “embarrassed” by the incident. “Clearly, the bell ringers in question did not comply with this dress code.”
“We … apologize to all who were offended, as were we,” he added.
Meanwhile, a representative for the Hells Angels insisted the group welcomes people from “all walks of life” and explained that members will sometimes wear “heritage-based” patches, though most do not.
As reported by the Times of Northwest Indiana, the Salvation Army has since canceled a bell-ringing event the group had planned for late December.
