Bikers ride through D.C. to honor 9/11 victims

Look out, D.C. Your streets are going to be crowded on Wednesday.

To honor the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, thousands of motorcyclists are riding through the streets of the nation's capital.

The group, which calls itself the "2 Million Bikers to D.C.," had applied for a permit but was denied by the National Park Service and the Metro Police, according to WTOP.com.

The bikers decided to come to D.C. anyway, which is perfectly legal. Ted Gest, spokesperson for the D.C. attorney general's office, told U.S. News, "It's not a crime to parade" through the district without a permit.

Already, pictures are showing up on Twitter and Facebook.

There is some speculation about the rally's motives. According to the Washington Times, the rally was originally intended as a response to the American Muslim Political Action Committee's Million Muslim March, also planned for Wednesday.

However, the 2 Million Bikers to D.C.'s Facebook page paints a different picture. There, the group insists the event is peaceful and is intended to respect for victims of 9/11 as well as those in the armed forces.

The bikers' Facebook page also writes this:

The Million Muslim March's official site explains that its gathering is a march "against fear."

Via its official site:

According to the Washington Times, the few dozen participants in the Million Muslim March were outnumbered by a Christian group protesting the rally.