By OPP Pittsburgh

On Monday a D.C. Superior Court Judge ruled against the far-right group Proud Boys (PB), stripping them of their name and trademark. This was a default judgement against the PB due to the group’s failure to pay the $2.8 million dollars they owe to the church or respond to legal proceedings.

The most current ruling against the PB originated from an incident in December of 2020. The PB attended a pro-Trump rally in Washington, D.C. that stretched multiple days. This pro-Trump rally was called in response to the ongoing protests that swept the country after George Floyd was murdered by Police in Minneapolis. MN. The brutal tactics deployed by the D.C. police department and federal police against peaceful racial justice protestors are well documented. Thousands of citizens were arrested or attacked while protesting for racial justice and police reform. Yet hate groups like the Proud Boys were allowed to attack people, destroy property and vandalize churches during their Trump demonstrations. Trump directly addressed the group on September 29, 2020 during a highly televised presidential debate, commanding them to “stand back and stand by.”

According to a statement from the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church (Metropolitan AME Church), the Proud Boys “leaped over Metropolitan AME Church’s fence, entered the church’s property, and went directly to the Black Lives Matter sign… and joined in the celebration of the sign’s destruction.” While the Proud Boys vandalized the church, they could be heard chanting some of their signature racist slogans and took  pictures/video to later be used as propaganda and recruiting material. The Metropolitan AME Church has made it very clear that this was an attack on the church and all those who stand against hate. These acts of aggression by this hate group were designed to intimidate and threaten. It is important to note that the PB vandalized other properties that day including another historic Black church.

Metropolitan AME first filed a civil suit against the PB in January 2021 and again in June 2023. The group failed to respond to any motions in the case, and a D.C. judge granted default judgment awarding Methodist AME $2.8 million in damages. The PB failed to pay the $2.8 million judgment and attempted to conceal who owned the organization’s trademark. In July of 2024, Metropolitan AME filed a third lawsuit, this time seeking a court order either establishing the owner of the mark or awarding the church control of the Proud Boys name. On February 3rd, after the Proud Boys and Henry “Enrique” Tarrio again failed to respond to court filings, Judge Jones Bosier granted the church’s request and awarded Metropolitan AME control of the Proud Boys trademark. Additionally, she imposed a lien against the organization permanently barring it from “selling, transferring, disposing of, or licensing the trademark ‘Proud Boys’ without the consent of Plaintiff Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church.”

The Proud Boys were formed in 2016 during the U.S. Presidential race (Hillary Clinton/Donald Trump). This group has explicit misogynistic and racist beliefs. Since their founding they have used street level violence to enforce their vile beliefs on women, LGBTQ+ and “leftists.” Their Canadian American founder Gavin McInness has described the group as a “gang.” They are linked not only to assaults and murders but also countless instances of intimidation and online stocking. At their peak they claimed tens of thousands of active members. They have a centralized national leadership who organize the group by state, with chapters based in cities. In 2021, Canada banned the group, labeling them a terrorist organization. The group has often tried to conceal their racist and homophobic beliefs by highlighting members who are not white or are openly gay. The group appeals to Latinos directly with praise of Augusto Penoche, former fascist dictator of Chile.

Proud Boys attack demonstrators in Portland, Oregon.

In 2016 the group adopted a uniform of black and yellow Fred Perry polo shirts. As a company, Fred Perry boldly reacted by issuing a statement condemning the group, and further, refusing to sell that color combination shirt in the United States to anyone. The PB quickly started reproducing a knock off version using their trademark logo instead.

At least 54 Proud Boys were charged for crimes committed during the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol building. The very first day Trump was reelected and took office, he pardoned or commuted every single person charged or convicted with participating in the attack on the Capitol. These 1,500+ people include leadership of the PB who were sentenced to prison time for organizing, planning and participating in the attack. Recently released from a federal prison because of this pardon, Tarrio, former police informant and leader of the PB, has issued blusterous statements condemning the trademark ruling against the PB and praising President Trump for releasing him from prison. Tarrio was serving a 22 year sentence for sedition and his involvement in the Capitol attack.