Motorcyclists from around the state, including a group from the Chattahoochee Valley, rode to the Capitol Wednesday to rev their engines against a federal grant the Georgia State Patrol is using to conduct motorcycle-only safety checkpoints.

“It’s unfair and there are a lot more things the money could be spent on,” said Ronald Foxworth, local district coordinator of the American Bikers Active Toward Education. “We just voiced our opinion.” Capitol Police estimated between 300 and 400 people attended the protest, which lasted about two hours and included 10 speakers.

The crowd -- including about 15 motorcyclists from LaGrange, Ga., and at least two groups from Columbus -- denounced the checkpoints as unconstitutional and chanted “No more profile stops,” Foxworth said. “We wanted to show one voice that we were all together on this,” said Linda Allen, the legislative director of ABATE of Georgia. “We want viable, research-based programs that are actually going to make a difference.”