Proud Boys

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[[File:Proud Boys PB and Wreath Logo.jpg|thumb|right|165px|One of various Proud Boys logos. Found on some dumbass' tee-shirt.]]
{{cquote|We will kill you. That’s the Proud Boys in a nutshell. We will kill you.|||Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, 2016.<ref>[https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2020/9/30/21495451/trump-biden-the-proud-boys-who-are-they-white-supremacist-mcinnes Trump mentioned the Proud Boys, but who are they? “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” President Donald Trump said at Tuesday’s presidential debate when asked if he would condemn white supremacists groups.] by Jeff Parrott (Sep 30, 2020, 2:50pm MDT) ''Deseret News''.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=18&v=6SJGSrYLWxQ RWW News: Gavin McInnes' History of Violent Rhetoric] by RWW Blog (Oct 15, 2018) ''YouTube''.</ref>}}
{{cquote|We want to make America hate again.|||Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, 2024.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/28/proud-boys-gavin-mcinnes-trump-documentary "Proud Boys founder says ‘corrupt leftwing media’ should apologise for January 6 riot"] by Edward Helmore, Guardian, 2024 October 28</ref>}}
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'''Proud Boys''' (also known pejoratively as "Poor Boys")<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/522387-people-embrace-rebranding-of-proud-boys-to-poor-boys-after-biden-misspeaks People embrace rebranding of 'Proud Boys' to 'Poor Boys' after Biden misspeaks] by Dominick Mastrangelo (10/22/20 10:38 PM EDT) ''The Hill''.</ref> is a 
pro-LGBT hashtag
<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/05/proud-boys-hashtag-lgbt-twitter-users LGBT Twitter users tease far-right group by taking over Proud Boys hashtag] ''[[The Guardian]]'' 5 October 2020</ref> [[far-right]], Christian nationalist [[extremist]] hate group with ties to [[white nationalist]] groups and a history of [[misogyny]] and glorifying violence.<ref>[https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/proud-boys Proud Boys,] [[Southern Poverty Law Center]].
{{blockquote|Their disavowals of [[bigotry]] are belied by their actions: rank-and-file Proud Boys and leaders regularly spout white nationalist [[memes]] and maintain affiliations with known extremists. They are known for [[Islamophobia|anti-Muslim]] and misogynistic rhetoric.}}</ref><ref>Jason Wilson, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/19/proud-boys-fbi-classification-extremist-group-white-nationalism-report FBI now classifies far-right Proud Boys as 'extremist group', documents say.] ''The Guardian'', 19 November 2018.</ref> It is a designated terrorist group in [[Canada]] and [[New Zealand]].<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2021/02/03/963682181/canada-lists-proud-boys-as-a-terrorist-group-alongside-isis-and-al-qaida Canada Lists Proud Boys As A Terrorist Group, Alongside ISIS And Al-Qaida] ''NPR'' 3 February 2021</ref><ref>https://www.npr.org/2022/06/30/1108841462/new-zealands-government-classifies-the-proud-boys-as-a-terrorist-organization</ref>

Founder [[Gavin McInnes]] announced the Proud Boys on ''[[Taki's Magazine]]'' in 2016,<ref name=taki>[http://takimag.com/article/introducing_the_proud_boys_gavin_mcinnes/print Introducing: The Proud Boys] by Gavin McInnes (September 15, 2016) ''[[Taki's Magazine]]''.</ref> an [[alt-right]] publication. Numerous members of the Proud Boys are alt-right.<ref>[https://medium.com/@willsommer/the-fratty-proud-boys-are-the-alt-rights-weirdest-new-phenomenon-7572b31e50f2 The fratty Proud Boys are the alt right's weirdest new phenomenon]</ref> McInnes hosts alt-right guests on his shows, like [[Holocaust denial|Holocaust-denying]] [[Baked Alaska]].<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/realbakedalaska/photos/a.397146787127628.1073741829.387120264796947/730832623759041/ Facebook]</ref> [[Neo-Nazi]] podcaster [[The Right Stuff]] lauds McInnes for recruiting people to the far right.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20170706160317/https://radio.therightstuff.biz/2017/04/28/the-daily-shoah-150-national-globalists/ The Daily Shoah 150]</ref><ref name=bigots>[https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/08/10/do-you-want-bigots-gavin-because-how-you-get-bigots Do You Want Bigots, Gavin? Because This Is How You Get Bigots]</ref> However, McInnes fiercely asserts that the Proud Boys are not alt-right<ref name=notaltright>[http://officialproudboys.com/proud-boys/we-are-not-alt-right/ WE ARE NOT ALT-RIGHT]</ref> — and they were willing to sue the Baltimore City Paper to prevent them from using the term.<ref>[http://www.citypaper.com/news/dic/bcp-102517-dic-proud-boys-20171025-story.html Proud Boy lawyer demands alt-weeklies not call "western chauvinist fraternity" alt-right]</ref>

Some high-profile Proud Boys include [[Roger Stone]] (a Second Degree member),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190412154039if_/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDjMcAEuqDA DailyBeastSuckMyDick] by ProudBoys USA (Feb 21, 2018) ''YouTube'' (archived from April 12, 2019).</ref> [[Mike Cernovich]], [[Alex Jones]],<ref>{{cite web | title=VIDEO: Infowars Host Alex Jones Gets Initiated Into The Proud Boys – The Clover Chronicle | website=Clover Chronicle - | date=2018-12-13 | url=https://cloverchronicle.com/2018/12/13/video-infowars-host-alex-jones-gets-initiated-into-the-proud-boys-the-clover-chronicle/ | access-date=2025-06-13}}</ref> {{wpl|Lucian Wintrich}} of ''[[Gateway Pundit]]'', and {{wpl|Charles C. Johnson||.}}<ref name=meetup/>{{rp|11}}

==Early Proud Boys manual==
During the 2023 trial of Proud Boys members for their role in the 2021 coup attempt an early Proud Boys manual was made public; the manual had been seized by search warrant in 2021.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/proud-boys-rules-trial-lawyers-dont-want-jurors-to-see-2023-1 Proud Boys facing sedition charges don't want jurors to see 'politically incorrect' guide to masturbation, slavery, 'housewives'] by Laura Italiano (Jan 23, 2023, 4:33 PM) ''Business Insider''.</ref> The manual can be dated roughly, based on McInnes' obvious writing style and the reference to Dante Nero as 'pope' of the Proud Boys; Nero had left the Proud Boys before September 2017, after he realized that the group was attracting racists.<ref>[https://www.thisamericanlife.org/626/transcript 626: White Haze] by Zoe Chase (September 22, 2017) ''This American Life''.</ref> The manual is full of both inanity and contradiction.<ref name=meetup/> Why is this? One explanation might be that McInnes himself is a doofus, another explanation might be for the same reason that [[advance fee fraud]] emails are badly written — to quickly weed out people who might see through the [[scam]].<ref>[https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/WhyFromNigeria.pdf Why do Nigerian Scammers Say They are from Nigeria?] by Cormac Herley, ''Microsoft''.</ref>

All of Proud Boys' meetings are to begin with a three-paragraph quote from [[Pat Buchanan]]'s book ''The Death of the West'',<ref name=meetup/>{{rp|2}}<ref>[https://archive.org/details/deathofwesthowdy00buch_0/page/220/mode/2up?q=%22fair+minded%22 ''The Death of the West''] by Patrick J. Buchanan (2002) ''St. Martin's Griffin''. ISBN 0312285485.</ref>{{rp|220}} which puts the lie to the claim that Proud Boys are merely "Western [[Chauvinism|chauvinist]]" since Buchanan is an anti-semitic fascist.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1992/03/01/buchanan-explained/c1cf4bdb-071b-4508-bae2-2422ee3846e4/ Buchanan Explained] by Charles Krauthammer (March 1, 1992) ''The Washington Post''.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121030133214/http://www.adl.org/special_reports/Patrick_Buchanan2/ Patrick Buchanan: Unrepentant Bigot] (February 27, 2012) ''Anti-Defamation League'' (archived from October 30, 2012).</ref> The "Western chauvinist" claim is essentially spin ([[public relations]]) for being white nationalist.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/08/texas-shooting-white-supremacy-non-whites Why non-White people might advocate white supremacy] by Philip Bump (May 8, 2023 at 2:48 p.m. EDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> Regarding these paragraphs, the manual instructs chapters in other countries to omit the sentence with [[American exceptionalism]] ("America was a [[Segregation|segregated society]], but in no other nation do people enjoy greater freedom, opportunity, and prosperity than here in the United States.").<ref name=meetup/>{{rp|2}}

The manual includes [[cultural appropriation]]: using the Swahili word for freedom (''uhuru'') as a rallying cry, and using the [[Muslim]] phrase "peace be unto him",<ref name=meetup/>{{rp|8}} a phrase which is only used for the [[prophet]] [[Muhammad]].<ref>{{wpa|Islamic honorifics}}</ref> The manual then wonders rather stupidly whether Muslims should be allowed to join.<ref name=meetup/>{{rp|10}} In reference to men whom McInnes is unsure of whether they could join, the manual also includes the offensive term 'Abbo' (for Australian Aborigines),<ref>Abo, ''n.'' and ''adj.'', ''Oxford English Dictionary''.</ref> but presumably referring to the person that McInnes married in 2005, a [[Native American]] woman.<ref name=meetup/>{{rp|10}} Another cultural appropriation that the Proud Boys make is the use of the song "Proud of Your Boy" from the Broadway musical ''Aladdin'' (2014 release),<ref name=meetup/>{{rp|5}}<ref name=aladdin>[https://genius.com/Original-broadway-cast-of-aladdin-proud-of-your-boy-lyrics Proud of Your Boy] ''Genius''.</ref> which contains rather silly lyrics for a bunch of supposedly macho men. ''Aladdin'' is ultimately based on a [[Middle Eastern]] folktale,<ref>{{wpa|Aladdin}}</ref>{{efn|I've wasted time<BR>
I've wasted me<BR>
So say I'm slow for my age<BR>
A late bloomer<BR>
Okay, I agree<BR>
That I've been one rotten kid<BR>
Some son, some pride and some joy<BR>
But I'll get over these lousin' up<BR>
Messin' up, screwin' up times<BR><BR>

You'll see, Ma, now comes the better part<BR>
Someone's gonna make good<BR>
Cross his stupid heart<BR>
Make good and finally make you<BR>
Proud of your boy<BR><BR>

Tell me that I've been a louse and loafer<BR>
You won't get a fight here, no ma'am<BR>
Say I'm a goldbrick, a goof-off, no good<BR>
But that couldn't be all that I am<ref name=aladdin/>}} so we're 'proud' of you boys for stealing that too.

In the section "Our Politics", it is immediately claimed that "[[bullshit|We are not a political group. We are a fraternal brotherhood like the Elk's Lodge or the Shriners.]]"<ref name=meetup/>{{rp|8}} The section then proceeds to list McInnes' "10 Ways to Save America", what are essentially wrong-headed and simplistic political positions:
{{collist|2|
#Abolish prison — "… The following points lend themselves back to this one."
#[[Gun nut|Give everyone a gun]]… but not for free
#Legalize [[drugs]] — opposition to the [[War on Drugs]]
#End [[welfare]] — "Right now we have incentivized single mothers. This has shattered families, especially poor families. Stop rewarding single mothers for leaving their husbands and we get the family back. With fathers comes [[Corporal punishment|disciple]] and employment. With jobs comes less crime."
#:McInnes thinks that mothers returning to abusive fathers will somehow improve the family. 
#Close the borders — "… No more Spanish schools or Chinese schools. Everyone speaks English and patriotism is encouraged."
#Outlaw censorship — "… We need to fight for free speech not just against the government but against people who want to shut it down. We are now policing ourselves worse than [[Big Brother]]. That needs to stop. Free speech includes all speech&nbsp;— good and bad&nbsp;— and a huge part of this brotherhood is making sure nobody is prevented from speaking. This is arguably our most important cause."
#:Except for the "No more Spanish schools or Chinese schools." bit.
#Venerate the housewife — "Proud Boys are encouraged to put a ring on it and knock her up. We need to make more Proud Boys."
#:Despite claiming to "venerate the housewife", McInnes is [[Sexual objectification|objectifying women]], using the word 'it' rather than 'her finger', and using a vulgar term for [[pregnancy]]. It is basically [[Kinder, Küche, Kirche]].
#Glorify the entrepreneur
#Recognize the West is the best — "This is just a [[Alt-right glossary#Hatefact|hate fact]]. America was not [[Native American genocides|stolen from the Indians]] and it was not built on [[slavery]]. Europe and Britain were not built on [[Colonialism|colonization]]. We fought hard to be #1 and we won. All other cultures are not merely different than us. They are worse."
#:Does doofus even know that before 1776, Europeans in the Americas formed colonies with slave labor?
#Shut down the government — "We have no respect for the institutions that rob us of our hard-earned wages. We don't expect another man to handle our freedom and determine our destiny. We may not be [[anarchists]] but we always want the government brought down to the absolute minimum."
#:We are not anarchists, but we are [[Grover Norquist|government bathtub stranglers]].
}}

==Violence==
[[File:Proud Boys Tattoo.jpg|thumb|right|385px|This image of fail has been immortalized on the internet.]]
McInnes frequently asserts that the Proud Boys are nonviolent. For example, McInnes wrote that "We don’t start fights but we will finish them. The violence you see in the media is us defending ourselves from lunatics who want us dead for no discernible reason."<ref name=notaltright/> However, as Rewire News notes, McInnes has a preoccupation with violence and often justifies it:<ref name=rewire>[https://rewire.news/article/2017/08/28/hate-goes-mainstream-gavin-mcinnes-proud-boys/ How Hate Goes ‘Mainstream’: Gavin McInnes and the Proud Boys] by Sharona Coutts (Aug 28, 2017, 3:27pm) ''Rewire News Group''.</ref>

{{cquote|The other striking thing one learns from watching hours of McInnes on his show is that he has a fascination with violence that permeates much of his material. [....] "Violence solves everything," he said on a recent episode. [....] He tells stories about his own violent fights and recently interviewed a New York Proud Boy named Jovi Val who was left with a slashed cheek and a broken nose after a scuffle over his "[[Make America Great Again]]" hat turned into a bar brawl, and who, during the show, removed the bandages from his face, revealing a gash above the lip still oozing with blood. On many episodes of his show, he congratulated Proud Boys for being involved in street violence. Earlier this year, he added a "fourth degree" of Proud Boy membership, reserved for those men who "had an extreme conflict based on the cause", as McInnes explained on a recent episode of his show.}}

In practice, the Proud Boys have gained infamy mostly from their violent stunts. For example, Proud Boy [[Kyle Chapman]] became infamous as "Based Stickman" for a video of him breaking a wooden stick over the head of an [[Antifascist Action|antifascist activist]].<ref name=bigots/> McInnes himself proudly announced that Chapman had founded the "Fraternal Order of Alt-Knights", which he described as the "military division of [the] Proud[ ]Boys".<ref>[https://archive.fo/hP6k1 Twitter]</ref> The Proud Boys gained headlines when they acted as the "security" force for white nationalist [[Lauren Southern]] in the "Battle of Berkeley".<ref name=rewire/> Afterwards, the official Proud Boys Twitter account wrote that Southern had been "protected by TheProud Boys today" and that "hearing her say 'they (antifa) can’t get to me, I’m with the guys' felt great".

On August 10, 2018, McInnes' [[Twitter]] account and the Proud Boys' Twitter account were suspended by Twitter per their rules on violent extremist groups.<ref>[https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/twitter-suspends-proud-boys-and-founder-gavin-mcinnes Twitter Suspends Proud Boys And Founder Gavin McInnes Accounts Ahead Of Unite The Right Rally]</ref><ref>[https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/twitter-shuts-down-accounts-of-vice-co-founder-gavin-mcinnes-proud-boys-ahead-of-unite-the-right-rally-1202902397/ Twitter Shuts Down Accounts of Vice Co-Founder Gavin McInnes, Proud Boys Ahead of ‘Unite the Right’ Rally]</ref>

===Crimes===
*In January 2019, Tusitala "Tiny" Toese, a Samoan-American member of Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge from a 2018 brawl in Portland, [[Oregon]].<ref>[https://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/2020/08/proud-boy-former-patriot-prayer-brawler-tusitala-tiny-toese-arrested-in-washington.html Clark County Proud Boy, former Patriot Prayer brawler Tusitala ‘Tiny’ Toese arrested in Washington] by Eder Campuzano (Updated Aug 29, 2020; Posted Aug 29, 2020) ''The Oregonian''.</ref>

*On August 19, 2019, Proud Boys Maxwell Hare and John Kinsman were convicted of "attempted gang assault, attempted assault and riot" outside a speech by McInnes at the Metropolitan Republican Club in New York City.<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/republicans-are-adopting-the-proud-boys Republicans Are Adopting the Proud Boys: Before and after the Manhattan brawl, GOP figures defended and promoted the far-right group. It’s a valuable and dangerous bridge between fascism and mainstream politics.] by Kelly Weill & Will Sommer (Updated 10.17.18 10:57AM ET / Published 10.16.18 4:43AM ET) ''Daily Beast''.</ref><ref name=monihan>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/19/nyregion/proud-boys-verdict-trial.html Two Members of Proud Boys Convicted in Brawl Near Republican Club: The charges resulted from an altercation with anti-fascists after the group’s founder, Gavin McInnes, had spoken in Manhattan.] by Colin Moynihan (Aug. 19, 2019) ''The New York Times''.</ref> During the trial, McInnes was referred to by prosecutors as a hatemonger.<ref name=monihan/> A total of 10 Proud Boys had been arrested who were at the event, 7 of pleaded guilty to charges of "riot, disorderly conduct and attempted assault", and one other is awaiting trial.<ref name=monihan/>

*In 2019, Buckey Wolfe, a Proud Boy and [[QAnon]] follower, allegedly killed his brother with a sword because he thought he was a lizard.

*In August 2020, Proud Boy Travis Taylor allegedly attacked and broke the finger of a [[journalist]] (Robert Evans, @iwriteOK).<ref>[https://twitter.com/bellingcat/status/1298236193793089536 The man who attacked @iwriteok and broke his finger on Saturday is Travis Taylor, a Proud Boy previously identified by @TorchAntifa. https://torchantifa.org/dox-all-your-boys-part-6/ … See a comparison below between his face and tattoos between 2018 and this weekend.] by @bellingcat (5:30 AM · Aug 25, 2020) ''Twitter'' (archived from August 30, 2020).</ref>

*In September 2020, Proud Boy Alan James Swinney was charged with multiple counts of assault, "pointing a firearm at another, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful use of tear gas, stun gun or mace."<ref>[https://www.opb.org/article/2020/09/30/police-arrest-far-right-protester-who-pointed-gun-at-portland-rally/ Police arrest far-right protester who pointed gun at Portland rally] by Conrad Wilson (Sept. 30, 2020 8:27 a.m.) ''Oregon Public Broadcasting''.</ref> He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2021.<ref>[https://www.wvnstv.com/news/self-proclaimed-proud-boy-gets-10-years-for-2020-protest-crimes/ Self-proclaimed Proud Boy gets 10 years for 2020 protest crimes: Multnomah County deputy DA called Swinney a 'vigilante cowboy'] by Hailey Dunn (Posted: Dec 13, 2021 / 11:42 AM EST / Updated: Dec 13, 2021 / 11:42 AM EST) ''WVNS-TV''.</ref>

*In December 12, 2020, after weeping at homes that their [[Donald Trump|god-emperor]] had not been reelected president, about 700 PBs and peripheral supporters rallied in Washington, DC. About three dozen people were arrested for causing violence, and it was reported that members of the rally roamed the streets looking for fights.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/proud-boys-protest-stabbing-arrest/2020/12/13/98c0f740-3d3f-11eb-8db8-395dedaaa036_story.html Pro-Trump rally descends into chaos as Proud Boys roam D.C. looking to fight] by Peter Hermann (Dec. 13, 2020 at 6:50 p.m. PST) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> Four people were stabbed<ref>[https://time.com/5921156/stabbing-trump-rally-washington/ "Four People Stabbed and At Least 23 Arrested at Pro-Trump Rally in D.C."] by Ashrap Khalil, Time, 2020 December 13th</ref> and four churches were vandalized during the chaos.<ref>[https://patch.com/district-columbia/washingtondc/bowser-condemns-vandalizations-black-churches-dc "Bowser Condemns Vandalism Of DC Churches By Proud Boys"] by Michael O'Connell, Patch. 2020 Dec 14</ref>

*On January 4, 2021, the leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, was arrested in Washington D.C. on a warrant charging him with burning a [[Black Lives Matter]] banner taken from a historic [[African American]] church during the above demonstration on the night of December 12, 2020. During the arrest, officers confiscated two high-capacity ammunition feeding devices and charged him with felony possession of them.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/proud-boys-enrique-tarrio-arrest/2021/01/04/8642a76a-4edf-11eb-b96e-0e54447b23a1_story.html "Proud Boys leader arrested in the burning of Black Lives Matter banner, D.C. police say"] by Peter Hermann and Martin Weil, Washington Post, 2021 Jan 4</ref> Tarrio was found guilty of two misdemeanors and sentenced to 155 days of incarceration.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/proud-boys-leader-sentenced-more-5-months-burning-black-lives-n1277466 Proud Boys leader sentenced to more than 5 months for burning Black Lives Matter banner: Henry Tarrio, 37, known to followers as Enrique, admitted that he burned a Black Lives Matter banner taken from a historic Black church during a pro-Trump demonstration in December.] by Pete Williams (Aug. 23, 2021, 12:24 PM PDT / Updated Aug. 23, 2021, 12:34 PM PDT) ''NBC News''.</ref>

*On August 31, 2023, Joe Biggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison for seditious conspiracy.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/08/31/proud-boys-joseph-biggs-sentencing-jan6-seditious-conspiracy Proud Boy leader Joseph Biggs sentenced to 17 years for Jan. 6 crimes] by Rachel Weiner & Tom Jackman (August 31, 2023) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

===2021 U.S. Capitol riot===
{{main|2021 U.S. Capitol riot}}
At least 37 members or associates of the Proud Boys were arrested in connection with the Capitol riot.<ref name=hsu1>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/proud-boys-police-indictment-florida/2021/07/16/1fdbe642-e5a4-11eb-8aa5-5662858b696e_story.html Two Fla. police officers charged in new Proud Boys indictment in Capitol riot] by Spencer Hsu (July 16, 2021) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> "[A]t least 65 Proud Boys affiliates joined an on-the-ground communications channel in Washington, led by four men accused of leading others in some of the most destructive, aggressive and earliest attacks to breach police lines…<ref name=hsu1/> "A confidential informant from the Proud Boys told the [[FBI]] the Proud Boys would have killed [[Mike Pence]] if given a chance."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/16/trump-put-pence-more-danger-than-we-knew/ Trump put Pence in more danger than we knew] by Philip Bump (June 16, 2022 at 4:47 p.m. EDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

*On January 8, 2021, the leader of the [[Hawaii]] chapter of the Proud Boys, Nick Ochs,<ref>[https://ballotpedia.org/Nicholas_Ochs Nicholas Ochs] ''Ballotpedia''.</ref> was charged with trespassing into a restricted building during the [[2021 U.S. Capitol riot]]. Ochs is also a member of "Murder the Media",<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/01/09/he-was-documenting-chaotic-scene-when-suddenly-trump-supporters-turned-their-ire-him/ Journalists were attacked, threatened and detained during the Capitol siege] by Brittany Shammas (Jan. 9, 2021 at 5:00 a.m. PST) ''The Washington Post''. "'MURDER THE MEDIA,' someone carved into a door."</ref> a YouTube podcast.<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/hawaii-proud-boy-and-murder-the-media-leader-nick-ochs-busted-in-capitol-riot Hawaii Proud Boy Leader Nick Ochs Busted in Capitol Riot] by William Bredderman et al. (Updated Jan. 08, 2021 7:23PM ET / Published Jan. 08, 2021 3:36PM ET) ''Daily Beast''.</ref>

*On January 13, 2021, self-described Proud Boy Eduard Florea{{efn|Florea had applied for membership but apparently had not yet taken the oath of membership<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/17/eduard-florea-guilty-plea/ Proud Boys supporter pleads guilty to threatening Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock: ‘Dead men can’t pass laws’] by Julian Mark (August 17, 2021 at 6:58 a.m. EDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> ("Hi, I'm [name]. I'm a [[Western world|Western]] [[Jingoism|chauvinist]]. I refuse to apologize for creating the modern world.").<ref name=meetup>[https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23583878-proudboyssignup Proud Boys Meet-Up: Stations of the Congregation] ''Document Cloud''.</ref>{{rp|6}}}} was arrested in New York City for making threats against [[Democrats]].<ref>[https://www.pix11.com/news/local-news/queens/man-arrested-after-fbi-investigates-threats-to-democrats-sources Man arrested in Queens after FBI investigates 'threats to Democrats': sources] by Anthony DiLorenzo (Posted at 7:58 AM, Jan 13, 2021; last updated 5:06 AM, Jan 13, 2021) ''PIX11''.</ref> In August 2021, Florea pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting threats to injure Senator Raphael G. Warnock, and one count of possessing ammunition after having been convicted of a felony.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/17/eduard-florea-guilty-plea/ Proud Boys supporter pleads guilty to threatening Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock: ‘Dead men can’t pass laws’] by Julian Mark (August 17, 2021) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

*Also on January 13, 2021, Dominic Pezzola (a.k.a. "Spazzo"), who broke the first window in the Capitol riot, was arrested and charged.<ref>Adam Rawnsley and Pilar Melendez, [https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-track-down-dominic-spazzo-pezzola-the-proud-boy-seen-smashing-capitol-window-with-police-shield Feds Track Down Bearded Proud Boy Seen Smashing Capitol Window With Police Shield]. The Daily Beast, 15 January 2021.</ref> He has also been charged with conspiracy along with fellow-PB, William Pepe.<ref name=weiner>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/brothers-charged-eugene-goodman-chase/2021/01/29/80dec868-6239-11eb-afbe-9a11a127d146_story.html Actions by Proud Boy at Capitol show ‘planning, determination, and coordination,’ U.S. alleges] by Rachel Weiner & Spencer S. Hsu (Jan. 29, 2021 at 4:23 p.m. PST) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

*On January 15, 2021, the FBI charged self-declared Proud Boy Daniel Goodwyn with trespassing into a restricted building during the [[2021 U.S. Capitol riot]]. During the riot, while in the Capitol building, Goodwyn was [[doxxed]] by [[Baked Alaska]].<ref>[https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/daniel-goodwyn-arrest-baked-alaska-capitol-riot-15936383.php "SF web developer allegedly in livestream at Capitol riot found, arrested in Texas"] by Katie Dowd, SFGate, 2021 Februrary 9</ref>

*On January 20, 2021, Joseph Biggs, yet another self-described Proud Boys leader,<ref>[http://americanloons.blogspot.com/2022/08/2557-joe-biggs.html Joe Biggs]. [[Encyclopedia of American Loons]], 15 August 2022.</ref> former [[Infowars]] staffer, and an organizer of a controversial rally that took place in Portland, [[Oregon]] on August 17, 2019 called the "{{wpl|End Domestic Terrorism rally}}",<ref>[https://katu.com/news/local/controversial-organizer-joe-biggs-of-planned-portland-demonstration-speaks-to-katu "ontroversial organizer of planned Portland demonstration speaks to KATU"] by KATU News, KATU 2 ABC, 2019 August 16</ref> was arrested in [[Florida]] for his role in the Capitol riot and charged with obstructing an official proceeding before Congress, entering a restricted on the groups of the U.S. Capitol and disorderly conduct.<ref>[https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Proud-Boy-organizer-arrested-in-Florida-for-riot-15885600.php "Proud Boy organizer arrested in Florida for riot at Capitol"], Associated Press / San Francisco Chronicle, 2021 January 20</ref><ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biggs-proud-boys-leader-former-infowars-staffer-arrested-over-capitol-riot-1563181 "Joe Biggs, Proud Boys Leader and Former Infowars Staffer, Arrested Over Capitol Riot"] by Alexandra Garrett, Newsweek, 2021 January 20</ref>

*A father-son pair of proud boys were arrested, Kevin “Tito” Tuck and his son Nathaniel A. Tuck, who are former and current [[police]] officers.<ref name=hsu1/> They are charged with 9 counts, including assault of police officers and theft of government property.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/u-s-v-arthur-jackman-et-al-superseding-indictment/880b684e-3c93-4a8a-9fd3-b6b52d22fa0f/?itid=lk_inline_manual_11 U.S. v Arthur Jackman et al. superseding indictment] (Jul 16, 2021 at 11:42 AM) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

*Alleged PBs James Haffner and Ronald Loehrke were charged with civil disorder; Haffner was also charged with assaulting officers with a chemical spray.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/12/03/proud-boys-charged-powell-id/ Alleged Proud Boys associate charged in Capitol riot after FBI identified him in an August photo with Sidney Powell: Investigators partly identified the man using a Facebook posting showing a photo with him and one of Trump’s lawyers during the Sturgis motorcycle rally, court documents say.] by Spencer S. Hsu (December 3, 2021) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

*Joshua Pruitt was sentenced to 55 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. He appeared to have attempted to confront Senate Majority Leader [[Chuck Schumer]] in a Capitol hallway, allegedly with intent to commit harm, but did not commit violence during the riot. His lengthy sentence was due to his lengthy criminal record, including assaulting police.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/08/29/dc-proud-boy-pruitt-schumer-sentenced/ Proud Boys member who instigated Capitol mob, menaced Schumer sentenced to 55 months: Joshua Pruitt also faced down police in the Crypt and Visitors Center but did not assault officers] by Tom Jackman & Rachel Weiner (August 29, 2022) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

*William Chrestman was also sentenced to 55 months in prison. He is considered a low-ranking member but who none-the-less took a lead role during the riot, including threatening police with a two-foot axe handle.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/01/12/proud-boy-kansas-city-sentenced-chrestman Proud Boy who wielded ax handle and ‘fueled’ Jan. 6 riot sentenced: William Chrestman, initially unrepentant Proud Boys ‘tool’ and member of J6 Prison Choir, told court he was ‘sorry that police and people were injured and scarred by Jan. 6.’] by Spencer S. Hsu (January 12, 2024 at 6:12 p.m. EST) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

===Proud hazing: the circle jerks===
{{quotebox|'''Second Degree:''' You must get the crap beaten out of you by at least five guys until you can name five breakfast cereals. If you hammer out, “Chex, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, and Special K” in a matter of seconds, you’re free to go. If you get flummoxed by the punches and cannot think straight, well, sorry, you’re going to get pounded.<ref name=taki/>}}

==From Proud Boys to Poor Boys==
[[File:Enrique Tarrio Did Nothing Wrong.jpg|thumb|right|285px|Behold the master race.]]
In a 2020 presidential debate [[Donald Trump]] [[Dog whistle politics|implicitly endorsed]] their violence by saying, "Proud Boys: Stand back and stand by."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-did-get-one-thing-right-this-isnt-going-to-end-well/2020/09/29/d1a68d60-029b-11eb-b7ed-141dd88560ea_story.html Only the Proud Boys can take pride in Trump’s debate hooliganism] by Dana Milbank (September 29, 2020 at 8:57 p.m. PDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref><ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/09/donald-trump-proud-boys-debate-moment-snowballing Trump’s Proud Boys “Stand By” Debate Moment Is Snowballing] by Caleb Ecarma (Sept. 30, 2020) ''Vanity Fair''</ref> In response, the media generally condemned Trump's remarks. On social media however, the concept to hijack the tag "Proud Boys" took off, resulting in various hashtags related to the Proud Boys getting hijacked by [[gay]] men,<ref name=cnnhijack>[https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/04/us/proud-boys-twitter-hashtag-gay-men-trnd/index.html Gay men have taken over the Proud Boys Twitter hashtag], by Alaa Elassar (Oct. 4<sup>th</sup>, 2020) ''CNN''</ref> calling themselves the "real Proud Boys". Notable participants include the official Twitter account of the [[Canadian]] Armed forces in the US.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201115151444/https://twitter.com/RoyalCanNavy/status/1312872645705306113 Our #ProudBoys Love is Love ❤️🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈] by @RoyalCanNavy (Oct. 4<sup>th</sup>, 2020) ''Twitter'' (archived from November 15, 2020).</ref> In response, the leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, called it "hysterical" and said that he "didn't care who people sleep with",<ref name=cnnhijack/> appearing to miss the point of hijacking the name.

While calling out Donald Trump as a racist during a 2020 Presidential debate, the gaffe-prone [[Joe Biden]] erroneously — but appropriately — called them 'Poor Boys', but the name stuck:<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/23/biden-mistakenly-poor-proud-boys-presidential-debate/3740348001/ Even if Joe Biden misspoke about 'Proud Boys,' social media embraces 'poor boys'] by Joshua Bote (Published 8:56 a.m. ET Oct. 23, 2020; Updated 10:46 a.m. ET Oct. 23, 2020) ''USA Today''.</ref>
{{cquote|[[Satire|Abraham Lincoln here]] is one of the most racist presidents we've had in modern history. He pours fuel on every racist fire. He started off his campaign coming down those escalators saying he's going to get rid of those [[Mexican]] [[rapists]]. [[Islamophobia|He banned Muslims because they are Muslims]]. [[Policies of Donald Trump|He made everything worse across the board]]. He said about the Poor Boys, the last time we were on stage, he said I tell them to stand down and stand ready. Come on, this guy is a [[dog whistle]] about as big as a foghorn.}}

==="Enrique Tarrio did nothing wrong!"===
On January 27, 2021, the chicken-on-a-weathervane did a 180°. It was revealed that Tarrio had become a 'prolific' informant for local investigators and the [[FBI]] since 2012 after he was arrested "in a fraud case related to the relabeling and sale of stolen diabetes test kits", well before the start of his tenure as leader of the Poor Boys.<ref name=roston>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/27/proud-boys-leader-enrique-tarrio-fbi-informant Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was an FBI informant: Extremist leader repeatedly worked undercover for investigators after his arrest in 2012, former prosecutor and court files reveal] by Aram Roston (27 Jan 2021 11.35 EST) ''Reuters'' via ''The Guardian''.</ref> Tarrio entered into a plea deal, and "he cooperated with local and federal law enforcement, to aid in the prosecution of those running other, separate criminal enterprises, ranging from running marijuana grow houses in Miami to operating pharmaceutical fraud schemes."<ref name=roston/> Tarrio's cooperation also included working undercover on cases involving anabolic steroids, wholesale prescription narcotics, and [[Human trafficking|human smuggling]].<ref name=roston/> Tarrio admitted to Reuters that he would let [[police]] department know about Proud Boys' plans before rallies<ref name=roston/> (which is sensible if one is planning a peaceful rally), but since Tarrio was already a police informant, it takes on a different character that the more violent elements within the group might not appreciate.

In the fallout from the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot and the revelation that Tarrio is a stoolie, cracks in the Proud Boys structure have formed, with four chapters disaffiliating from the organization: Alabama, Oklahoma, Missouri and Las Vegas.<ref name=lang>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/proud-boys/2021/02/25/fabdea30-73ad-11eb-b8a9-b9467510f0fe_story.html As fractures emerge among Proud Boys, experts warn of a shift toward extremist violence] by Marissa J. Lang (Feb. 26, 2021 at 3:00 a.m. PST) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> Despite this, Tarrio claimed not just that the organization was not splintering but that it could not splinter.<ref name=lang/>

==FAFO: Fuck around and find out==
{{cquote|I thought, 'What the fuck have you imbeciles done now?' They’re not the brightest bulbs in the tree. They’re not exactly sophisticated.|||Gavin McInnes on the Proud Boys at the Capitol riot<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/the-secret-history-of-gavin-mcinnes The Secret History of Gavin McInnes: In the ’90s, he played punk rock and helped create ''Vice'' magazine. Five years ago, he founded a very different organization: the Proud Boys, the far-right group that came to personify the vilest tendencies of Trump’s America. A former ''Vice'' editor interviews one of our era’s most troubling extremists.] by Adam Leith Gollner (June 29, 2021) ''Vanity Fair''.</ref>}}
On January 6, 2021, a bunch of Proud Boys "fucked around" by playing a significant role in the [[2021 U.S. Capitol riot]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/04/us/capitol-arrests.html "Arrested in Capitol Riot: Organized Militants and a Horde of Radicals"] By Jennifer Valentino-DeVries, Grace Ashford, Denise Lu, Eleanor Lutz, Alex Leeds Matthews and Karen Yourish, New York Times, 2021 February 4</ref><ref name=hsu>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/captiol-riots-indictment-proud-boys/2021/03/18/971da624-8770-11eb-82bc-e58213caa38e_story.html Proud Boys conspired in multiple encrypted channels ahead of Jan. 6 riot, fearing criminal gang charges, U.S. alleges] by Spencer S. Hsu & Rachel Weiner (March 18, 2021 at 5:08 p.m. PDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> In the ensuing weeks, the Proud Boys "found out" the consequences of being an insurrectionist: about 20 members were charged with conspiracy and other crimes.<ref name=hsu/>

In February 2021, the Proud Boys were declared a [[terrorist]] organization by [[Canada]], which allows police to seize assets of the group and its members.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/canada-proud-boys-terrorist-capitol-siege/2021/02/03/546b1d5c-6628-11eb-8468-21bc48f07fe5_story.html Canada declares the Proud Boys a terrorist group] by Amanda Coletta (Feb. 3, 2021 at 9:43 a.m. PST) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> Oopsie Gavin, you're still a fuckin' hoser! Furthering their legal difficulties, the Proud Boys' ex-lawyer, Jason Lee Van Dyke, who owns the PB trademark revoked the right of the PBs to use it because of their violent actions and alleging that Tarrio's merchandise was "substandard".<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/proud-boys-dealt-another-blow-as-feds-crack-down Proud Boys Dealt Another Blow as Feds Crack Down: The Proud Boys’ former lawyer says he’s taking the name back.] by Will Sommer (Updated Feb. 03, 2021 10:24AM ET; Published Feb. 03, 2021 4:57AM ET) ''The Daily Beast''.</ref> The fight over the trademark could be entirely moot however because it could face cancellation due incorrect registration (the owner not being affiliated with the organization) or if the organization is declared illegal ''per se''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210108211101/https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/brand-management/proud-boystm-far-right-groups-trademark-could-face-cancellation-legal-experts-claim Proud Boys™ – far-right group's trademark could face cancellation, legal experts claim] ''World Trademark Review'' (archived from January 8, 2021).</ref>

After the riots, the Proud Boys enjoyed increasing scrutiny and elevated criminal charges from [[United States]] law enforcement as well. In court papers released in February 2021, prosecutors allege that, far from being mere participants, some of the Proud Boys coordinated and conspired certain elements of the riot, as well as obstructed and interfered with police officers protecting the Capitol.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/nyregion/proud-boys-capitol-riot-conspiracy.html "Did the Proud Boys Help Coordinate the Capitol Riot? Yes, U.S. Suggests"] by Alan Feuer, New York Times, 2021 Feb 5</ref> In early February 2021, five Proud Boys, including the self-described "sergeant-at-arms" for the Proud Boys Seattle chapter, Ethan Nordean (aka "Rufio Panman"), were arrested for their role in the riots on a joint conspiracy charge (with a footnote from the [[FBI]] anticipating more arrests in the future).<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/11/politics/proud-boys-capitol-riot-arrest/index.html "Five people associated with Proud Boys arrested for Capitol riot on conspiracy charges"] by David Shortell, CNN, 2021 February 11</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/11/5-charged-conspiracy-capitol-riots-2-seen-proud-boys/6721474002/ "5 charged with conspiracy in Capitol riots; at least 2 associated with Proud Boys leaders"] by Kevin Johnson and Kim Strong, USA Today, 2021 February 11</ref> In addition, on February 3, 2021, prosecutors added "conspiracy to obstruct Congress" to Nick Ochs' charges,<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/texas-man-self-proclaimed-leader-honolulu-proud-boys-now-indicted-federal-grand-jury "Texas Man, Self-Proclaimed Leader of Honolulu Proud Boys Now Indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for Conspiracy to Obstruct Congress"], press release, Department of Justice, US Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, 2021 February 3</ref> adding to the list of other arrested Proud Boys (Dominic Pezzola and William Pepe) charged with conspiracy.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/nyregion/proud-boys-charged-with-conspiracy-in-capitol-riot.html "Proud Boys Charged With Conspiracy in Capitol Riot"] by Alan Feuer, New York Times, 2021 January 29</ref>

In the short period between Tarrio's January 4 arrest and the January 6 Capitol riot, Nordean had been elected leader of the PBs.<ref name=cheney>[https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/01/proud-boys-capitol-472012 Prosecutors fill in details of Proud Boys assault on Capitol: Members are alleged to have dressed "incognito" on Jan. 6, then fanned out to prevent law enforcement from identifying them en masse.] by Kyle Cheney & Josh Gerstein (03/01/2021 05:18 PM EST; Updated: 03/01/2021 09:56 PM EST) ''Politico''.</ref> It looks like the PBs will have to find another new leader due to the FBI's finding a passport in his house that did not belong to him and due to details uncovered about his communications with the PBs as to how to prevent the election certification on the election on the 6<sup>th</sup>.<ref name=cheney/>

In June 2021, a rough transcript of audio messages by various Proud Boys members found on Nordean's cell phone was released as part of court proceedings against Nordean. The audio clips reveal that the organization descended into chaos, confusion, and disfunction following the January 6 insurrection.<ref>Marshall Cohen, [http://lite.cnn.com/en/article/h_7244807bdb2cda51231a7c5ca0669676 Proud Boys descended into dysfunction and finger-pointing as members were arrested in US Capitol riot, new messages show]. CNN, 15 June 2021.</ref>

By April 9, 2021, the list of Proud Boys arrested for riot related crimes expanded to more than 20 in total (including two organizers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina). At least three Proud Boys (Dominic Pezzola, William Pepe, William Chrestman) faced charges of assaulting or threatening to assault federal law enforcement officers. Another Proud Boy (Christopher Worell) was charged with allegedly using pepper spray against police officers.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/17/us/politics/proud-boys-charges-capitol-riot.html "Proud Boys Leaders in Four States Are Charged in Capitol Riot"] by Adam Goldman and Alan Feuer, New York Times, 2021 March 17</ref><ref>[https://www.npr.org/2021/04/09/985104612/conspiracy-charges-bring-proud-boys-history-of-violence-into-spotlight "Conspiracy Charges Bring Proud Boys' History Of Violence Into Spotlight"] by Tom Dreisbach, NPR, 2021 April 9</ref><ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/13/politics/christopher-worrell-proud-boys-charges-capitol-insurrection/index.html "Charges filed against Proud Boys member who allegedly pepper-sprayed police during Capitol insurrection"] by Marshall Cohen</ref> It was noted by the [[New York Times]] that the Proud Boys, like many in the capitol riot, used their cell phones to document their criminal activities during the coup attempt on social media like [[Parler]], providing plenty of self-owning footage for prosecutors to work with.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/06/us/politics/capitol-riot-joe-biggs-proud-boys.html "Capitol Rioters Face the Consequences of Their Selfie Sabotage"] by Elizabeth Williamson, New York Times, 2021 April 6</ref>

On December 22, 2021, Matthew Greene became the first PB to plead guilty, to obstructing Congress and conspiring to obstruct law enforcement, both felonies.<ref name=weiner2>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/12/22/matthew-greene-proud-boy/ Proud Boy pleads guilty to felony charge in Capitol riot] by Rachel Weiner (December 22, 2021) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> Greene is also cooperating with prosecutors.<ref name=weiner2/>

The Proud Boys faced additional legal trouble when, on February 16, 2021, several members of Congress and the [[NAACP]] filed a lawsuit accusing the Proud Boys (and several other prominent riot participants) of violating the {{wpl|Ku Klux Klan Act}} by conspiring to disenfranchise [[African American|Black]] voters via their riot participation.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/07/capitol-riot-congress-members-sue-trump-giuliani-proud-boys-oath-keepers-.html "10 more Congress members join lawsuit accusing Trump, Giuliani, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers of Capitol riot conspiracy"] by Dan Mangan, CNBC, 2021 April 7</ref><ref>[https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/20484426/2-16-21-thompson-v-trump-complaint.pdf Case 1:21-cv-00400], United States District Court For the District of Columbia, Filed 2021 February 16, archived at Documentcloud.org</ref> Adding to the Proud Boys' legal woes, on April 9, 2021, the {{wpl|Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church||,}} one of the historic Black churches where the Proud Boys destroyed [[Black Lives Matter]] signs during a December 12, 2020 rally in Washington D.C., won a default judgement against the Proud Boys and Enrique Tarrio. The lawsuit had accused Tarrio and the Proud Boys of theft, defacement of private property, trespass, and intentional destruction of religious property.<ref>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/4avgvd/the-black-church-that-could-bankrupt-the-proud-boys?__twitter_impression=true&utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark "The Black Church That Could Bankrupt the Proud Boys"] by Tess Owen and Greg Walters, Vice News, 2021 April 8</ref><ref>[https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/proud-boys-lose-by-default-in-historic-black-churchs-lawsuit-accusing-them-of-terror-and-vandalism/ "Proud Boys Lose by Default in Historic Black Church"] by Adam Klasfeld, Law and Crime, 2021 April 9</ref><ref>[https://lawyerscommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Complaint-Final-signed.pdf "METROPOLITAN AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH v. PROUD BOYS INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.], Complaint, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, dated 2021 January 4, archived at Lawyerscommittee.org</ref>

As part of an effort by various police departments to root out officers with extremist ties, a Fresno, California police officer and Proud Boy, Rick Fitzgerald, was fired for his activities. He had participated in a November 2020 pro-Trump rally that turned violent. He had claimed that he quit the Proud Boys after that incident, but in 2021 he was still urging people to join extremist groups ([[Three Percenters]] and {{wpl|Patriot Prayer}}).<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/04/11/fresno-rick-fitzgerald-proud-boys/ California police fire officer who was a Proud Boy, saying they have no tolerance for 'hate groups'] by Hannah Knowles (April 11, 2021 at 4:00 a.m. PDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref><ref>[https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article250578014.html Fresno police union slams investigation that led to firing of cop with Proud Boy ties] by Carmen George (April 10, 2021 08:43 AM, Updated April 10, 2021 04:30 PM) ''The Fresno Bee''.</ref>

The Proud Boys had often sought to downplay their extreme elements, with McInness downplaying the group as a "men's club" that simply meets "in a bar once a month" and drinks [[beer]] "just like everyone else".<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/US/proud-boys-founder-denies-inciting-violence-responds-feels/story?id=59758209 "Proud Boys founder denies inciting violence, responds to whether he feels responsible for group's behavior"] by ABC News, 2018 December 12</ref> Although it was clears from the beginning that McInness's description was [[bullshit]], the Proud Boys' participation in the riots revealed, clearly and unequivocally to everyone, the group's true extremist colors.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/12/proud-boys-splintering-after-capitol-riot-revelations-leader/6709017002/ "Proud Boys splintering after Capitol riot, revelations about leader. Will more radical factions emerge?"] by Will Carless, USA Today, 2021 February 12</ref>

In March 2022, Tarrio was charged with conspiracy in connection with the 2021 Capitol insurrection attempt.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/03/08/enrique-tarrio-indicted-proud-boys/ Longtime Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio charged with conspiracy in Jan. 6 attack on Capitol] by Spencer S. Hsu & Devlin Barrett (March 8, 2022) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> He was quickly arrested and, in May 2022, denied pretrial release.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/enrique-tarrio-ex-proud-boys-leader-jailed-until-capitol-riot-trial/ Ex-Proud Boys leader to remain jailed until Capitol riot trial."]</ref>

On June 6 2022, the Justice Department charged Tarrio and four other Proud Boy leaders with {{wpl|seditious conspiracy||,}} a far more serious tort than the conspiracy charges they were previously facing. At this date, the only other riot participants to receive this charge were several leaders of the [[Oath Keepers]]. <ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/06/politics/tarrio-proud-boys-charged-seditious-conspiracy-january-6/index.html "Proud Boys leader and top members charged with seditious conspiracy over January 6"] by Hannah Rabinowitz and Katelyn Polantz, CNN, June 6 2022</ref>

In May 2023, Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, Nordean, and Rehl were found to be guilty of seditious conspiracy. The jury could not reach a verdict on Pezzola for seditious conspiracy, but found him guilty of other charges.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/jury-reaches-verdict-proud-boys-seditious-conspiracy-trial-rcna81129 Four Proud Boys members found guilty of seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 trial: The jury remains split on whether a fifth member of the group is guilty of seditious conspiracy and will continue to deliberate.] by Ryan J. Reilly (May 4, 2023) ''NBC News''.</ref> In August 2023, Biggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison for this conviction, at the time the second longest sentence handed down to a Capitol insurrection participant.<ref name="biggssentence">[https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/31/politics/proud-boys-biggs-sentencing/index.html "Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs sentenced to 17 years in January 6 case"] by Hannah Rabinowitz and Holmes Lybrand, CNN, 2023 August 31</ref> On that same date, Rehl was sentenced to 15 years in prison.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/proud-boy-leaders-joe-biggs-zachary-rehl-sentenced/story?id=102832655 "Former Proud Boys leaders Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl sentenced for Jan. 6 sedition"] by Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 2023 August 31</ref> Pezzola was sentenced to 10 years one day later.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66689547 "Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola who stormed US Capitol jailed for 10 years"] by Bernd Debusmann Jr, BBC News, 2023 September 1</ref> On the same day Pezzola was sentenced, Nordean was sentenced to 18 years in prison.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-jan-6-proud-boys-prison-sentence-58173200af1664716cbaec8ed2c2a145 "Proud Boy convicted of helping spearhead Capitol attack ties Jan. 6 sentence record with 18 years"] by Lindsay Whitehurst, AP News, 2023 September 1</ref> In September 2023, Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison.<ref>Daniel Barnes and Ryan J. Reilly, [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/enrique-tarrio-proud-boys-sentenced-jan-6-sedition-case-rcna103280 Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio gets 22 years, longest Jan. 6 sentence yet]. ''NBC News'', 5 September 2023.</ref>

In 2025, the Proud Boys lost control of their trademarked name, any assets associated with it, and any future funds generated using the trademark due to their failure to pay the $2.8 million judgment won against them by the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/04/proud-boys-group-lose-name-to-black-church Far-right group Proud Boys loses legal naming rights to Black church it vandalized: Church said extremist group never paid $2.8m court judgment over 2020 attack during Trump rally] by Richard Luscombe (4 Feb 2025 10.11 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref><ref>[https://www.metropolitaname.org/stand-with-us "We Stand Up For Justice and Stand Against Hate"], Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church</ref>

==Post-riot==
Following the 2021 Capitol riot, the national organization of the Proud Boys has supposedly disbanded, leaving local chapters to stir up shit. Proud Boys have been menacing school board meetings in opposing [[face mask]] mandates and joining [[anti-vaccine]] mandate protests during the [[COVID]] pandemic.<ref>[[https://www.thedailybeast.com/anti-mask-protests-and-proud-boys-shut-down-three-schools-in-vancouver Three Schools Forced Into Lockdown After Anti-Masker Proud Boys Try to Infiltrate] by Blake Montgomery (Sep. 04, 2021 5:38PM ET) ''Daily Beast''.</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/08/proud-boys-join-protests-against-covid-vaccine-mandates-masks/5703785001/ With Trump in the rearview mirror, Proud Boys offer muscle at rallies against vaccine mandates, masks] by Will Carless (Published 5:00 a.m. ET Sept. 8, 2021; Updated 7:57 p.m. ET Sept. 8, 2021) ''USA Today''.</ref>

Since 2022, PBs have been menacing [[drag]] events, particularly Drag Queen Story Hour.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/21/us/drag-lgbtq-rights-race-deconstructed-newsletter-reaj/index.html Proud Boys crashed Drag Queen Story Hour at a local library. It was part of a wider movement] by Brandon Tensley (July 21, 2022) ''CNN''.</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/protesters-bloodied-arrested-nyc-drag-story-hour-rcna75724 Protesters are bloodied and arrested at NYC Drag Story Hour: Protesters, some of whom appear to be Proud Boys members, clashed with counterprotesters at a Drag Story Hour hosted by N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James.] by Matt Lavietes (March 20, 2023, 9:24 AM PDT) ''NBC News''.</ref>

In January 2025, a group of Proud Boys were seen marching in the streets of DC as Trump was being sworn in for his second presidency.<ref>{{cite web | last=Barnes | first=Sophia | last2=Whitehurst | first2=Lindsay | last3=Fields | first3=Gary | title=Proud Boys seen marching and chanting in DC streets as Trump sworn in | website=NBC4 Washington | date=2025-01-20 | url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/proud-boys-seen-marching-and-chanting-on-dc-streets/3819787/ | access-date=2025-06-13}}</ref>

Richard Black, a Proud Boy who helped organized far-right rallies-turned-riots in 2017, was featured as one of the twenty "far-right conservatives" who debated Mehdi Hasan on the July 20th, 2025 episode of the [[Youtube]] channel Jubilee's ''Surrounded'' series.<ref>{{cite web | last=Wilson | first=Jason | title=Revealed: Debate opponent of Mehdi Hasan organized violent far-right protests | website=the Guardian | date=2025-07-26 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/26/richard-black-proud-boys-mehdi-hasan-jubilee | access-date=2025-07-26}}</ref>

==Proud Boys Britannia==
[[File:ProudBoysBritannia.jpeg|thumb|right|165px|Taking Britain forward to the [[Dark Ages]].]]
'''Proud Boys Britannia''' formerly known as '''Proud Boys UK''' is a largely irrelevant British-based spinoff, considered "an embarrassment" within the wider UK far-right movement due to its Fred Perry uniforms, rituals, and adolescent humour.<ref>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/case-files-proud-boys-britannia/ CASE FILE: Proud Boys Britannia] ''Hope Not Hate''</ref> Originally founded as Proud Boys UK by former US Marine Paul Yates while living in Manchester, the group held a 2019 summer camp in Yorkshire attended by about 20 activists, turned up at a few Tommy Robinson demonstrations and engaged in a little light stickering before vanishing into even further obscurity for a couple of years.<ref name=soh2020>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/state-of-hate-2020-final.pdf State of Hate 2020: Far Right Terror Goes Global] ''Hope Not Hate''</ref> During this wilderness period the group was most noteworthy for purchasing black-and-yellow Fred Perry polos for their North American brethren when the company, unhappy with the association, pulled them from the market there.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/proud-boys-uk-ship-fred-perry-polo-us-1535257 Proud Boys in U.K. Buying Fred Perry Polo Shirts to Ship to U.S.] by Jacob Jarvis (30 September 2020) ''Newsweek''</ref> When the group later returned it had created a branch structure for its handful of activists. And although it now avoided public demonstrations<ref name=soh2022>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/state-of-hate-2022-v1_17-March-update.pdf State of Hate 2022: On The March Again] ''Hope Not Hate''</ref> they occasionally meet up in small groups in pubs.<ref name=soh2023>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/state-of-hate-2022-v1_17-March-update.pdf State of Hate 2023: Rhetoric, Racism & Resentment] ''Hope Not Hate''</ref> It did, however, achieve some notoriety calling [[Labour Party]] leader [[Keir Starmer]] a "paedophile/serial killer protector" and pushing the claim, later popularised by [[Boris Johnson]], that he was responsible for the failure to prosecute {{wpl|Jimmy Savile||.}}<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/feb/05/far-right-celebrates-after-johnson-repeats-savile-slur-in-parliament Far right celebrates after Johnson repeats ‘Savile slur’ in parliament] by Mark Townsend (5 February 2022) ''The Observer''</ref> As well as acting as a social club, the group posts childish and misogynist jokes and memes to the 2,500 subscribers to its Telegram channel.<ref name=soh2024>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/state-of-hate-2024-v15.pdf State of Hate 2024: Pessimism, Decline & the Rising Radical Right] ''Hope Not Hate''</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Proud Boys in Pittsboro (2019 Oct) - 01.jpg|2019 Proud Boys at a Pittsboro, NC rally in 2019 with [[Confederate flag]]s and [[Pinochet]] [[Alt-right glossary#Did nothing wrong|did nothing wrong]] t-shirt: Jay Robert Thaxton (left) and Jeremy Bertino<ref>[https://www.jdnews.com/story/news/2021/01/08/n-c-proud-boy-jay-thaxton-arrested-d-c-unrest-u-s-marine/6601014002/ North Carolina ‘Proud Boy’ arrested in DC was a Marine who may have Cherry Point ties] by Calvin Shomaker (Published 4:32 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2021; Updated 12:48 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2021) ''The Daily News, Jacksonville, North Carolina''.</ref>
File:46.ProudBoys.USSC.WDC.6January2021 (50810872007).jpg|Proud Boys at the march preceding the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot; Boy in the center also has a [[Three Percenters]] [[militia]] patch
File:Joe Biggs and Ethan Nordean cropped.png|Proud Boys Joe Biggs and Ethan Nordean, both were charged at the 2021 riot
File:Proud Boy Jeremy Bertino wearing a Right Wing Death Squad (RWDS) patch in Raleigh (2020 Nov) (50658113573).jpg|Jeremy Bertino wearing Proud Boys insigna and a [[Alt-right glossary#RWDS|RWDS]] (right wing death squad) patch, he was charged in the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot
File:Zach Rehl - Leader of the Philly Proud Boys (50558087973).jpg|Zach Rehl, leader of the Philadelphia chapter giving the [[Alt-right glossary#OK|"OK" sign]], was seen at outside the Capitol on January 6. By March 17, Rehl was arrested by the [[FBI]] and charged with conspiracy for participating in the riot.<ref>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/epdmva/a-proud-boy-in-disguise-helped-lead-the-insurrection-at-the-capitol Insurrection at the Capitol: The man caught on video breaking a window at the Capitol with a riot shield is a member of the Proud Boys who goes by the alias "Spazzo."] by Tess Owen  & Mack Lamoureux (January 12, 2021, 3:38pm) ''Vice''.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/17/us/politics/proud-boys-charges-capitol-riot.html "Proud Boys Leaders in Four States Are Charged in Capitol Riot"] by Adam Goldman and Alan Feuer, New York Times, 2021 March 17</ref>
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Classical antiquity#Roman wreath|Roman wreath]]

==External links==
*[https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/proud-boys Proud Boys] — ''[[Southern Poverty Law Center]]''
*[https://archive.md/m1Jo8 The Philadelphia Proud Boys: An Introduction] — public information on members of the Philadelphia chapter
*[https://unicornriot.ninja/2020/leaked-2019-chats-show-alan-swinney-collaborating-with-proud-boys-american-guard-and-militias-to-plan-violent-rallies/ Leaked: 2019 Chats Show Alan Swinney Collaborating with Proud Boys, American Guard, and Militias to Plan Violent Rallies] — ''Unicorn Riot''
*[https://youtu.be/qbGeFKc0iRo The Violent Rise of the Proud Boys] — Renegade Cut
*[https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23583878-proudboyssignup Proud Boys Meet-Up: Stations of the Congregation]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|2|80%}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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