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D.C. Church Sues Proud Boys For Tearing Up Black Lives Matter Sign

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This article is more than 3 years old.
Updated Jan 4, 2021, 07:39pm EST

Topline

The far-right group Proud Boys faced a reckoning Monday over their alleged destruction of Black Lives Matter signs during a protest in Washington, D.C. last month, as a historic Black church in Washington filed a lawsuit against the group and the Proud Boys' leader was arrested by D.C. police, just days before another planned protest in the nation’s capital this week.

Key Facts

The Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, a 148-year-old church located blocks from the White House, is suing Proud Boys International and the group’s leader, Enrique Tarrio, for conspiracy, trespassing and destruction of property.

The lawsuit alleges Proud Boys members jumped over Metropolitan AME’s fence, tore down a six-foot-long plastic Black Lives Matter sign and ripped it up on the sidewalk, part of a wider pattern of destruction following a tense Dec. 12 protest over President Trump’s election loss.

Several videos of the incident on Twitter show people who appear to be wearing Proud Boys insignias ripping up a Black Lives Matter sign outside the church while chanting.

On Monday, D.C. police arrested Tarrio for burning a Black Lives Matter sign that belonged to Asbury United Methodist Church — another historical Black church in D.C. — on the same night as the Metropolitan AME incident, charging him with destruction of property and illegal possession of high capacity magazines.

Tarrio has publicly admitted to burning Asbury’s Black Lives Matter sign.

Proud Boys International could not be reached for comment.

Surprising Fact

Tarrio told the Washington Post last month he was willing to plead guilty to destruction of property for burning Asbury United Methodist Church’s sign. It’s unclear whether he was also present at Metropolitan AME on the same night or if he plans on taking responsibility for the destruction of that church’s sign.

Crucial Quote

“Black churches and other religious institutions have a long and ugly history of being targeted by white supremacists in racist and violent attacks meant to intimidate and create fear,” Kristen Clarke from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, one of the groups representing the Metropolitan AME church in court, wrote in a statement on Monday. “Our lawsuit aims to hold those who engage in such action accountable.”

Tangent

Several groups are planning large-scale demonstrations in Washington on Wednesday to protest Congress’ certification of the Electoral College results and back up Trump’s false voter fraud allegations. Some members of the Proud Boys say they plan on attending this week’s demonstrations, and officials like D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser are worried about the potential for violent confrontations during and after the event.

Key Background

The Proud Boys were founded four years ago by former Vice magazine co-founder Gavin McInnes, who later distanced himself from the group. The all-male organization casts itself as a fraternal society for “Western chauvinists,” and the Southern Poverty Law Center reports many of its members have prolifically spread white nationalist and misogynistic ideas, a charge the group denies. Members of the group are known for clashing with left-leaning activists at protests and occasionally entering into violent brawls, including during last month’s D.C. protests. Many Proud Boys are vehement Trump supporters, and Trump declined to condemn the group’s conduct during a debate against President-elect Joe Biden in September, a choice some members interpreted as an endorsement of the group.

Further Reading

Proud Boys leader says he burned Black Lives Matter banner stolen from church during demonstrations in D.C. (Washington Post)

Pastor Of Black Church Defaced In Protests: 'An Assault On Our Historical Resolve' (NPR)

Who Are The Proud Boys, The Group Behind The Controversial Portland Rally? (Forbes)

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