Biker group escorts bullied sixth-grader to school

About two dozen bikers got together to escort a Texas sixth-grader to school Monday morning after they learned that the boy had been bullied at school.

Garret Bear's parents said their son is regularly picked on by other students at his school in Arlington. The school's administrators have tried to stop the bullying but to no avail.

"The school has done what they can," James McIntosh, Garret's dad, told KXAS-TV. "We don't blame the school. It's not their fault. It's not the kids' fault. It starts at home. If the parents don't take an interest, they don't have a clue what their kid is doing to other kids outside the home."

That's when McIntosh reached out to Longhorn Harley Davidson in Grand Prairie. The staff there connected him with a group called, "Bikers Against Bullying," who were willing to help.

Ken "Shiner" Harrison, the organizer for "Bikers Against Bullies," told KXAS that the group was formed out of concern for the number of young people committing suicide after being bullied.

"We just want to help and make sure that bullying does not become a bigger epidemic than it is," Rico Rossi, who works at the Harley store, told the news station. Rossi also participated in Monday's ride.

When the group learns about a child who needs their help, the bikers rally together to escort the child to school in a show of strength and support.

"It's about making the kid a rock star," Harrison said.

What happened?

Garret had no idea what was going on when his parents drove him to the Harley shop before school Monday.

"I was surprised," Garret told KXAS.

He hung out and chatted with the bikers before heading out.

"Garret is going to feel like he's on cloud nine," Harrison said. "He's gonna walk in with his chest high, pumped, ready for the day. Other kids are gonna say wow, I wish it was me riding those bikes. And then they're gonna say, wow — he must be a really cool kid."

Finally, they helped the boy gear up, he hopped on the back of one the motorcycles and they rode to his school.

"It was really cool," said Garret.

Another group of bikers was there to pick him up after school.

What else?

The bikers and Garret's parents hope that the kids who've been messing with Garret learn something from the bikers' display of support.

"I really, really hope this gets through to them that bullying is not OK," McIntosh said.