ANDERSON — Anthony “Tony” Lupica sat on a bar stool inside one of three buildings he recently acquired from the former motorcycle club known as the Ratcoons.
Lupica, 67, said he purchased the property to open a chapter of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club — a nationwide organization known as 1%ers.
The American Motorcycle Association helped coin the 1%er term during a motorcycle rally held in 1947 in Hollister, California.
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The organization stated at the time that 99% of the people at their events were God-fearing and family oriented. The other 1% were hard riding, hard partying, non-mainstream people.
Lupica said the term isn’t about the baddest of the bad — they just like to do things in extreme.
“People fear the unknown,” Lupica said. “Our thing is we ride more, we probably party more. We do everything more than other people do. We are the elite of the elite of motorcycle clubs in the world.”
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The club’s reputation is very well known, especially among law enforcement officers.
“The police followed us into town,” said Lupica. “They were looking for warrants, checking out license plates and doing all that stuff.
“We are not here to rape, pillage and plunder,” he added.
Anderson Police Chief Tony Watters said he spoke with Lupica shortly after his arrival in Anderson.
“When I saw the Outlaws ride into the city of Anderson, it did raise concerns because I know the legacy behind that motorcycle club,” he said.
Watters said Lupica gave him his word that the Outlaws are opening a new chapter locally to help improve the quality of life in both the community and its schools.
“Time will tell,” Watters said.
Lupica said the Outlaws are not coming to Anderson to “oppress civilians who are not motorcycle riders or other motorcycle clubs.”
He said the Outlaws history is a long one, originating in 1935 as the Sam McCook’s Outlaws. He said they are the oldest motorcycle club in the country and their members include doctors, lawyers and successful professionals.
“Hell’s Angels came on board in 1946,” Lupica said.
To his knowledge, this is the first time an Outlaws chapter has opened in Anderson.
“If we did have one here, we would still be here,” he said. “we have several hundred all over the world — probably 550 all over the world.”
Shaking negative perceptions about the Outlaws, however, might not be easy.
In 2012, FBI agents raided motorcycle clubs belonging to the Outlaws in both Fort Wayne, where Lupica was listed as the president and incorporator, and the Indianapolis chapter. In all, 42 members of the organization were charged.
Federal prosecutors said the group was targeted for a variety of offenses including racketeering, mail fraud, money laundering, extortion, drug charges, wire fraud, witness tampering and operating an illegal gambling operation.
Lupica said he will be the president of the Anderson chapter which is strategically located halfway between the Fort Wayne and Indianapolis Outlaws.
“This just gives them one more place going from the East to the West and the West to the East to refresh themselves,” he said. “Plus, it was a good move on our part because of the real estate and everything. We got a really good deal. It’s 3.8 acres.”
The acreage will provide room for Outlaws during state and national events held by the club in Anderson, he said.
Lupica said people might have some misconceptions about Outlaws, but with time those will be corrected. One of the biggest misconceptions is that the organization is a motorcycle gang.
“We are a motorcycle club,” he stressed. “Every motorcycle club in this age has to evolve or they become extinct. Kind of like the dinosaurs. They are not here anymore.”
In fact, Lupica said they want to close the gap between motorcyclists and citizens and help combat bullying and teen suicide rates locally.
He said in the past he has taken 50 Outlaws with him to escort a student being bullied to school.
“We feel it’s a precursor to teen suicide,” Lupica said of bullying. “It’s just too much and it’s a pandemic.”
The first step to stop bullying is to educate people, Lupica said.
“A child did not come out of the womb being a bully,” he said. “It’s a learning process that they have learned through poor parenting or they learned through other kids. They don’t come out of the womb as bullies.”
He compared the problem to teen pregnancy before health classes were taught in schools.
“We have to do the same thing with bullying,” Lupica said. “We have to have a conversation about it. I believe it should be learned at home, but unfortunately with the way society is today, they are learning the wrong things at home sometimes.”
Lupica also talked about the importance of children.
“They are our future,” he said. “We need to do a better job of protecting them.”
Parents with children who are bullied should first talk with school personnel to address the issues and the parent of the other child involved.
“There should be some dialogue between them,” he said. “Not heated dialogue, but dialogue where they can resolve the problem.
“If we don’t try to resolve a problem, we are part of the problem,” he added.
He said the Outlaws will always champion children who have been bullied.
“We have to try and stop kids being tortured,” he said. “They need to have freedoms, liberty and happiness like everyone else.”
The motorcycle club also plans to participate in local charity events and give back to the community. Not everyone who rides a motorcycle, however, can become a member.
Lupica said some of the restrictions include no female members or someone who has worked in law enforcement or as a guard in a prison institution.
“There are police that are in motorcycle clubs and it’s a conflict of interest,” he said. “You can’t be one and not the other. A child molester would also never get in.”
He said there is a year-long “hang-around period” and background checks are conducted on prospective members.
“Those are just some of the guidelines we use,” Lupica said. “It’s a brotherhood of like-minded people.”
Insane Throttle Biker News 
I have been riding motorcycles since 1975 and I have had a number of problems with the one percent club’s
Over the years,
I want no part of them
And their issues I don’t want to join any side or support anyone other than myself the turf wars that they have are for idiots and drug addicts they profit off others addiction by dealing drugs and glorify themselves with patches and tattoos for violence let them enjoy the brother hood of inmates in prison that’s where they belong !!
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The fact you can never join the Outlaws if you ever worked as a cop proves they are doing shit they dont want the cops to know about. Its hilariously obvious. They dont want their dope trade, prostitution, or illegal gun business, jeapordized.
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I’m an Advocate old ass Veteran and Strong Supporter of The Outlaws MC 1%. I lived in Salsbury NC Back in The early 80″s The Brothers were always Great with supporting and advocating and protecting Children. Even as old as I Am? I don’t ride anymore But I’d run my Ram 1500 and have their backs and support The Anderson chapter in A Flash. Anderson SC should Be Greatful to Have The 1st and The newest Support MC Located There in Anderson SC. One Brother. One Nation One %. Onefeather HELL YEAH
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@sidewinder so, is the fact that only law enforcement can join law enforcement clubs also prove the cops are doing something they do not want the public to know about?
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S y lo
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Outlaws:
Bullies in numbers,
Cowards one on one.
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So all the shootings and drugs are just a figment of everyone’s imagination……
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Cool story bro. If you believe this I e got some ocean front property in Colorado to sell you.
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Such BS.
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Good article. Its about time something positive was published rather than the negative. I was broke down in my car many cars drove pastnot even bothering to look my way, 1 person stopped. An Outlaw. He was respectful and fixed my car. When I offered to pay him he smiled and said that’s just what we do. I knew as soon as that man pulled up I would be helped. He was in his colors, looked tough as hell and covered in tattoos but I can honestly say I would have been more nervous if a man in a suit pulled up to help because Ive been harassed by more of them than any biker.
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Good article. Its about time something positive was published rather than the negative. I was broke down in my car many cars drove pastnot even bothering to look my way, 1 person stopped. An Outlaw. He was respectful and fixed my car. When I offered to pay him he smiled and said that’s just what we do. I knew as soon as that man pulled up I would be helped. He was in his colors, looked tough as hell and covered in tattoos but I can honestly say I would have been more nervous if a man in a suit pulled up to help because Ive been harassed by more of them than any biker.
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Outlaws are the true only original 1%. Period. I’m in 81 area with Red Devils etc etc here. A mess. I’m an O.G. 65 and not rode in 15 years. Injured. Moving to Tnn. Soon. I support Outlaws move to Anderson SC 100% . I hung wuth a few Outlaws in Salisbury NC In the 80’s. Great caring MC. Loves kids and the city of Anderson should not fret any. I would say this. People Elders and Kids Damn sure Be alot more safer now. Ride my bruhs with Pride and Im honored To support The Outlaws MC To Anderson SC. Myrtle Beach here. Sucks. Respect ALWAYS. Onefeather
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GREAT story. So greatful He came along and assisted You in Your time of Dispare. May The Respect Be ever lasting and The True Word Of Kindness Be more Than A Cover where We Are Judged by Our Outer Shell and Not by Our Spirit. He’s A Wobderful Man. A Brother. An Asset To Anderson.
Spread The Word. Onefeather
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I’m appauled at Anyone who’d text a Comment and Not atrach their identy to the comments. In numbers? Really!
Seems this or those persons really are in Numbers but run in the muck and live in the dark.
I think in the church their defined as judgemental Hypocrites.
I assure People this. We are All one petson We are Two at last anf We are one Together. We should All Be For Each Other. Teach Your Kids to Find A Code One They can live by. One They’ll know by.
Wake up. Onefeather
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You know what, these guys are my idols, I remember seeing on the news about them riding, protecting a child being bullied in his school. I too was physically and emotionally Tortured everyday in school, back in the 80s though if you went too a teacher or mom and dad for help, it was always the sane thing, don’t listen to them and walk away, only made things worse because the bullies new they could get away with it, you people wonder why these bullied kids are so messed up, well it’s from being physically and mentally tortured every single day of the school careers. Sometimes though it’s carried out after school as well, a lot of times we start using drugs, in my case LSD, you don’t feel a thing using it, sometimes you become an enraged animal. Again you people wonder why we are screwed up, I had something happen in 1989, they new I was screwed up too. They thought I was a narc, I wasn’t, I was just in a lot of trouble with cops, so 4 dealers got together, tied me to a box spring and ELECTROCUTED me 28xs, I never once that whole time told them I was a narc, you’d think after about the 8thx they woulda realized I was, but the torture kept going, and this time I came face to face with extreme PTSD that lead to something called intermittent explosive disorder, this is 500% addrenilin running through the body and makes you extremely dangerous, your in a black out and literally as strong as a silverback gorilla. So yea you KNOW me now, and still wonder why I’m so screwed up. These motorcycle clubs try and help kids nowadays a d all you assholes think they are bad, the ones who do think that, as far as I’m concerned should mind your own GOD DAMN BUSINESS
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You know what, these guys are my idols, I remember seeing on the news about them riding, protecting a child being bullied in his school. I too was physically and emotionally Tortured everyday in school, back in the 80s though if you went too a teacher or mom and dad for help, it was always the sane thing, don’t listen to them and walk away, only made things worse because the bullies new they could get away with it, you people wonder why these bullied kids are so messed up, well it’s from being physically and mentally tortured every single day of the school careers. Sometimes though it’s carried out after school as well, a lot of times we start using drugs, in my case LSD, you don’t feel a thing using it, sometimes you become an enraged animal. Again you people wonder why we are screwed up, I had something happen in 1989, they new I was screwed up too. They thought I was a narc, I wasn’t, I was just in a lot of trouble with cops, so 4 dealers got together, tied me to a box spring and ELECTROCUTED me 28xs, I never once that whole time told them I wasnt a narc, you’d think after about the 8thx they woulda realized I was,nt but the torture kept going, and this time I came face to face with extreme PTSD that lead to something called intermittent explosive disorder, this is 500% addrenilin running through the body and makes you extremely dangerous, your in a black out and literally as strong as a silverback gorilla. So yea you KNOW me now, and still wonder why I’m so screwed up. These motorcycle clubs try and help kids nowadays a d all you assholes think they are bad, the ones who do think that, as far as I’m concerned should mind your own GOD DAMN BUSINESS
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Lupica is An MC Of Integrity and His Word is Gospil. I Stand Strong With The Prez and His Word is The Word.
God Forgives! Outlaws Don’t!
If some sicko messes with A Child? Then Judgement is Upon Them. Outlaws Serve Protect and Honor All Women and Children. An Oath of 100% Loyality to The Cause and 1% BrotherHood.
I’d be Honored To stand By Lupica The Outlaws Anyway Anyplace Anytime. Respect and Loyalty! And I’m just A Darkhorse. Onefeather
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If any of these dirt bag bikers go near any of my children I will show them what a trained killer can do to a 1% fag ..
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Well no on this comments never been a 1% so fuck you eat shit talk really tuff on here but out on the streets your fucking scared of 1% so stay home
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Well no on this comments never been a 1% so fuck you eat shit talk really tuff on here but out on the streets your fucking scared of 1% so stay home
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So no one on this comments ever been a 1% You make these comments but you would never say this to a OUTLAW face so tuff TONY’S STAY ON YOUR COMPUTER’S AND STAY AT HOME . AND LET THE BIG DOG IN THE REAL WORLD PUSSY’S O.F.F.O
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Why I see one.sided it well my comment is no different in a lot of comments on here bashing the OUTLAWS 1%ER . BUT LIKE I SAID ONE SIDED IT !!! O.F.F.O
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