Avengers Motorcycle Club: Who Are They?

The Avengers Motorcycle Club is among the most established outlaw biker gangs in the US. Having a strong presence and a good reach, this club has caused waves throughout the Midwest and further. To get to know about the real outlaw biker gangs and their role in the biker culture, the Avengers MC is a good place to start. Continue reading this article to know who they actually are.

Ron “Big Ron” Swalwell founded the Avengers Motorcycle Club in 1967 in Waterford, Michigan. Swalwell was born on November 28, 1943. He headed the club until his death on March 8, 2007. Swalwell had also run a club, known as the “Wild Children”, before the formation of the Avengers. He wanted to create something bigger and stronger.

The Avengers MC expanded rapidly in the late 1960s and 70s. What started out as a small group of bike riders who loved the road eventually became a giant in the Midwest. By the nineties, the Avengers Biker Club had grown into most states. Their influence and respect in the biker world increased.

Thomas “Big Foot Tommy” Khalil took control of the Avengers MC in 1997 as the club's National President. This was a massive change to the club. The Avengers grew even bolder and more assertive under Khalil's leadership. Some of the roughest patches in the history of the Avengers club occurred during Khalil’s tenure as club president.

Khalil was reputed to be a tough guy when it came to the rival clubs. He was not afraid of rivalries and struggles. He wanted to set the benchmark for the Avengers biker Club’s future. Although Khalil no longer leads the Avengers MC, his influence on the club remains strong today.

Each biker club has a unique look and patch, and the Avengers MC is not an exception. One of the simplest patches in the world of biker gangs is the Avengers MC patch.

The Avengers MC patch features four trident or pitchfork Greek crosses. The colors are ‘Gold’ and ‘Black’. The gold color represents the club's elite status and affluence, while black conveys the group's rough, outlaw image. The patch itself is placed at the back of the cut (Leather Vest) of the member/biker.

The members of the Avengers MC also wear a 100% mark in the diamond shape on their vests. This patch is a sign that they are 100% true and loyal to the Avengers biker club.

The Avengers Motorcycle Club also uses the motto: “AFFA”. This means “Avengers Forever, Forever Avengers.” This motto shows the sign of loyalty and duty towards the club. Such short words or acronyms are used by most outlaw biker clubs to show unity and pride.

The complete three-piece patch system consists of:

• Top Rocker: It displays the name of the club, which is the Avengers.

• Center Logo: The black and gold four tridents Greek cross.

• Bottom Rocker: It displays the location or chapter of the Avengers Club, like Ohio, Virginia, or Michigan.

The Avengers Biker Club has expanded to include many chapters across the U.S. and in Malta. It began in Michigan, but now has a solid base in the Midwest and elsewhere. The following are key locations where Avengers chapters can be found:

• Avengers Michigan Chapter

• Avengers Maryland Chapter

• Avengers Virginia Chapter

• Avengers Kentucky Chapter

• Avengers Indiana Chapter

• Avengers Florida Chapter

• Avengers West Virginia Chapter

• Avengers Ohio Chapter

• Avengers Tennessee Chapter

• Avengers North Carolina Chapter

• Avengers Matla Chapter

At least one chapter of the Avengers MC is in Malta, indicating the extent to which the club has spread. This global presence has turned the Avengers MC into one of the notable clubs in the biker world.

The Avengers MC has not lived in peace with other rival biker gangs or clubs. The club had major disputes with two other major biker clubs in the late 1990s, namely the “Iron Coffins MC” and the “Forbidden Wheels MC”.

The National President, Thomas “Big Foot Tommy” Khalil, told the Avengers to wage war against these rival biker gangs in 1997 and 1998. He ordered his club’s members to kill the members of the Iron Coffins and Forbidden Wheels MCs and steal their patches. It was one of the major steps that showed the extent of the Avengers' crimes through the media.

The Avengers also experienced run-ins with other clubs over the years. Arlington, Virginia, experienced one of the most renowned conflicts in June 1966. The Avengers MC and the Pagans clashed in the Lee Harrison Shopping Center. Close to 50 bikers from the two clubs fought against each other with tire irons, knives, and guns. 11 of the gang members were found guilty of fighting in the streets.

Over the years, the Avengers MC has been linked to several crimes. Activities that the club is associated with include:

• Racketeering: Conducting illegal money-making schemes.

• Arson: Setting fire to houses and shops.

• Assault: Getting engaged in fights and violence.

• Illegal Gun Use: Using weaponry for crimes.

• Drug Trade: Trading drugs to make money.

In 1999, the charges of racketeering and an attempt to commit a violent crime on behalf of the club were brought against an Avengers MC Ohio member, Tom Hakaim. He pleaded guilty. He then became a snitch against his club members and reported to the law.

Other biker groups have also waged war against the Avengers MC. As per certain legal resources, Pagans MC went even further to pay for the murder of the Avengers MC’s leader. It is because they considered the Avengers a threat to their power, hold, and territories.

The Avengers MC is not the largest biker club in America. Numerous other massive biker gangs operate across large portions of the country. The Avengers MC is mainly based in the Midwest, with other clubs dominating other areas.

The US has some of the largest biker clubs, characterized by size, power, and reach. The Avengers have established a strong reputation, yet they do not pass the test of other clubs that are older or have more members.

The Avengers Motorcycle Club does not have an easy way to join the club. It is very difficult to get an entry or become a full-patched member in any outlaw biker gang, and the Avengers MC is not an exception. The general pattern of most club memberships works like this:

• Hang Around: To begin with, you need to hang out with the club members and get to know them. You attend events, parties, and rides. It is at this stage that the club finds out whether you are serious or not.

• Prospect: In case the club likes you, you will be invited to become a prospect. This implies that you will have a patch that is on your vest and is called a ‘Prospect Patch’. You are a prospect and do things for the club and show your loyalty. The phase may take between several months and a year or more.

• Patch Member: Once you have served as a prospect, the club votes to accept you as a full member. You receive your three-piece patch, and you become a full-fledged Avenger. Now, you are a member with all the rights and duties to perform.

• Rise in Rank: With time, you can be selected for higher positions, such as sergeant-at-arms or the national president.

The Avengers biker club is present in many states. To be serious about joining, you would have to identify a local chapter and begin the hangaround phase. Every chapter can have its own rules on how to join.

One important thing is that if you want to join the Avengers biker club. The official website of the Avengers MC says:

To get to know about the Avengers MC, whether it is about chapters, down brothers, and to contact the club to become a member, you can visit their official website: http://www.avengersmc.com/ 

The Avengers MC has gotten into many clashes with the police, FBI, and other local law enforcers. The local police monitor the club and track its members. The club is under organized crime and gang activity watchlists.

Various research studies by the U.S. government have listed the Avengers in the list of outlaw biker gangs that are on the watchlist. The club has been raided, arrested, and taken through dragged-out court procedures. The members have been accused of such crimes as drug dealing, violence, and blackmail.

The Avengers biker club continues to exist despite legal problems. The chapters continue to meet, meetings happen, and new members continue to join. The club considers itself a community of riders who enjoy bikes and the open road. However, the law and the media may perceive them differently.

The most potent and notable biker gangs in the US are the Big Four outlaw biker clubs. These are:

• Hells Angels.

• The Outlaws MC.

• Bandidos.

• Pagans.

The four Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs) are widespread in the U.S. They comprise thousands of members across many chapters. These four are listed as the biggest threats to the outlaw biker world by law. The Hells Angels have already been regarded as the most ill-famed, and they have chapters all over the globe.

The Boozefighters MC is real. It is among the oldest biker clubs in the U.S. World War II veterans, including the legendary “Wino Willie” Forkner, founded the club in 1946 in Los Angeles.

The Boozefighters were known because of their offerings in the 1947 Hollister riot that was later adapted in the classic movie “The Wild One”, starring Marlon Brando.

The Boozefighters do not consider themselves ‘One Percenters’, as many of the outlaw clubs do. They have also never been linked with massive crimes. They consider themselves a group of bike lovers who prefer the freedom of the road.

The Hells Angels are referred to as the most famous and renowned biker club in the world. They were started in California in 1948 and have expanded to include chapters in various countries. The Hells Angels have turned into a trademark of outlaw biker culture. The other clubs that are most renowned (not for the good) are the Outlaws MC, the Bandidos, the Mongols, and the Pagans.

The Avengers MC is another major part of the US outlaw bikers. Since their start in Michigan in 1967, the Avengers have built a strong repute and brand. The Avengers MC is ill-famed, and their bold gold-and-black patch and their fierce loyalty are well known to lawmen and other club members alike.

The Avengers biker club has gone through tough times, engaged in several conflicts, and had to cope with many court proceedings. However, they are still there with chapters in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida, etc. They may be viewed as an outlaw biker gang or freedom riders, but either way, the Avengers MC has left an imprint on the biker world.