BACA: Bikers Against Child Abuse

BACA was founded by John Paul Chief Lilly, who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He has been in practice for twenty years, with most being spent in the treatment of abused children. Chief was aware that while the system was able to offer much in the way of helping children to heal, there were gaps that needed to be filled. Two major gaps were: providing for the safety of children and providing funding for their therapy. He knew court order would not always stop the perpetrators from access to the children. Law enforcement could not protect them continually. BACA also provides by attending court proceedings and can escort the kids to and from school and for errands if necessary to help make sure the children are free of fear.

BACA was started to help one abused 8 year old child, who was so scared that he wouldnt leave his house. This is when Chief stepped in with bikers to help the child. Within weeks he was out again, plaing like normal kids.The first BACA ride happened in 1995 which had 27 riders. What started as an idea to help this one child in Utah soon spread all over the country to help kids everywhere.

Getting in to BACA may be a challenge though. To become a member of BACA one must have regular access to a motorcycle that can do at least the speed limit, must be at least 18 years old, one must successfully pass a background check. They must then attend monthly meetings, rides, court hearings and other events, they must also ride with the chapter for at least one year. After this they must be unanimously voted in to become a member.

The BACA patch holds great significance to JP Lilly and all the other members of Bikers Against Child Abuse. In the patch the White represents the innocence of the children, red represents the blood of the children that has been spilled, the fist represents their opposition to child abuse, the skull and crossbones are a warning to the child abuser, and the chains represent the chains of abuse they are breaking.