Protests in New York: Russian-speaking bikers took 'Little Odessa' under personal protection

Thus, bikers want to protect the most famous Russian-speaking region in the United States from unrest against the backdrop of mass protests. This publication writes «РИА Новости».

A group of Russian-speaking bikers organized a patrol of the Brighton Beach area in New York, where people from the former USSR live. This area is also called "Little Odessa".

The founder and president of the Bratva MC motorcycle club Konstantin Kotov said that they decided to take such measures against the backdrop of mass protests and riots that swept the country after the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white policeman in Minneapolis.

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And while on Brighton Beach so far “there was nothing major, there were petty hooligan antics,” the bikers decided to track, “so that there were no lawlessness, vandalism, and so on.” Kotov noted that the police positively perceive help, support and thank them.

Bikers do not have firearms, as state law prohibits their carrying. But they still have “some self-defense items”.

Brighton Beach is patrolled every night until 3-4 a.m. How many people follow the order is not specified.

It is worth noting that in the American press, any self-defense squads or squads to protect property are criticized as potential racists. However, Kotov says that he doesn't care what they say. “Those people who make riots are normal, and those who want to prevent it are bad? Very well! I do not care. Let them say what they want, ”he said.

Kotov added that for him the protection of property is more important than someone else's opinion about him. He stressed that his property in Brighton Beach is not. But his friends live here, and they often spend their free time in the area. “We don't want our places of good pastime to be turned into ruins, that's all. We help these people, these are our neighbors, friends, ”Kotov explained.

He also added that he is a patriot of America - "a beautiful country, the best in the world." And he doesn’t understand how people living here can be unhappy.

The US is a free country, the biker added. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with gathering for peaceful protests and expressing your point of view. However, it’s a completely different matter when a peaceful protest suddenly “turns completely non-peaceful”, as is happening today in America, Kotov concluded.

Brighton Beach is a Brooklyn neighborhood with the most abundant service infrastructure in Russian. Brighton's coastal resort area is a popular destination for locals. Few people know that here is one of the best schools of Russian ballet in the United States, as well as the fact that scenes for the film “Requiem for a Dream” were shot in this place. You can find out interesting facts about this unique area. in this publication.