Mayor shuns Mongol 'terrorist' bikers

LANCASTER, Calif. Desert Inn in the high desert community plans to welcome members of the Mongols Bike Club when they arrive for a weekend stay, but some Lancaster officials say the club is not welcome.

On Friday night, a stretch of Lancaster Boulevard will be turned into a street fair for the Celebrate Downtown Lancaster Festival.

City leaders have put out the welcome mat for everyone, except the members of the Mongol Bike Club.

The city got word that the Mongols motorcycle gang booked all 144 rooms at Desert Inn for a gathering this weekend.

"All of these gangs, every single one of them, are nothing more than domestic terrorists, and we treat them accordingly. For them to come into our town is the stupidest thing I can imagine them doing," said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Perris.

"If anybody has any doubt about our resolve, that hotel is out of business. It will be out of business forever starting tomorrow. As far as we're concerned, they're consorting with terrorists," Perris said.

The Mongols, according to law enforcement, have a long history of violence.

Some Lancaster residents did not want to comment when asked about the Mongols coming to town this weekend. Others support city efforts to keep them out of town.

"Things like that I say no," said Lancaster resident Irene Baumann.

The manager of Desert Inn said she does not want to talk about the situation.

Perris said there will be a strong law enforcement presence in town this weekend.

"This town has a zero-tolerance of gangs. Stay out, do not come, there is nothing good going to happen to you if you come into our city," he said.

"I've said it before. I do not care about the civil rights of gang members."

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