Proud Boys

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Proud Boys
Proud-boy-tattoo.png
Named after "Proud of Your Boy"
Formation 2016; 1 year ago (2016)
Founder Gavin McInnes
Type Far right men's organization[1][2]
Headquarters New York City
Region
 International

Proud Boys is a far right men's organization[1][2][3][4] founded in 2016 by Vice Media co-founder and former commentator Gavin McInnes. McInnes describes the organization as a "pro-Western fraternal organization" for men who "refuse to apologize for creating the modern world."[5] The group has been referred to as alt-right or alt-lite.[6][7]

The group takes its name from the showtune "Proud of Your Boy," a song introduced in the 2011 stage-show version of Disney's Aladdin.[7][8]

In 2017, Kyle Chapman, with the full approval of McInnes, formed a "street fighting" wing of the Proud Boys called the Fraternal Order of the Alt-Knights (FOAK).[9][10]

Member initiation[edit]

The Proud Boys have a four-degree initiation process for new members.[11] In the first degree, a recruit must declare “I am a Western chauvinist who refuses to apologize for creating the modern world.”[12] According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the second degree involves five or more Proud Boys punching the recruit until he names five breakfast cereals, and another degree requires the recruit to get into a physical fight with an anti-fascist activist at a public rally.[13]

Events[edit]

New York University[edit]

In February 2017, McInnes arrived at New York University to give a speech, accompanied by a group of about ten Proud Boys. Minor violence broke out between Proud Boys and anti-fascist protesters, and the NYPD said that eleven people faced criminal charges. One member of the Proud Boys encouraged others to fight the "faggots wearing black that won’t let us in", and was later arrested for punching a reporter from DNAinfo.[14][15]

2017 Berkeley protests[edit]

Main article: 2017 Berkeley protests

At the 2017 March 4 Trump rally in Berkeley, California, Kyle Chapman was recorded hitting a counter-protester over the head with a wooden dowel. Images of Chapman went viral, and the Proud Boys organized a crowdfunding campaign for Chapman's bail after his arrest. After this, McInnes invited Chapman to become involved with the Proud Boys, through which he formed the Fraternal Order of the Alt-Knights.[16]

On April 15, 2017, a Patriot's Day rally was organized in Berkeley by the Liberty Revival Alliance, which did not seek or receive a permit, and was attended by members of the Proud Boys.[17] Violence broke out between protestors and counter-protesters, with over 20 people arrested and 11 injured.[18]

Disruption of Halifax Indigenous Peoples' Protest[edit]

Main article: Edward Cornwallis Statue protests

On July 1, 2017, five Canadian Armed Forces members who self-identified as Proud Boys disrupted a protest organized by Indigenous activists, in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Canada Day. General Jonathan Vance, the head of Canada's armed forces, later stated that the five would be removed from training and duties as the military investigates and reviews the circumstances surrounding their actions. General Vance also indicated that the members could possibly be released from the Armed Forces permanently.[3][19] Rear Admiral John Newton, Commander of the Maritime Fleet of the Royal Canadian Navy, was "personally horrified" by the incident and stated that the Proud Boys were "clearly a white supremacist group and we fundamentally stand opposed to any of their values."[20]

On August 14, 2017, the Canadian Armed Forces confirmed that the investigation had been concluded, but results were not made public, pending review by the chain of command.[21]

Unite the Right rally[edit]

Main article: Unite the Right rally

In June, McInnes disavowed the then-upcoming Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.[22] Proud Boys were at the August 2017 alt-right event, which was organized by far-right activist Jason Kessler. Kessler had joined the Proud Boys some time before organizing the event.[23][24][25] McInnes said that he had kicked Kessler out once his views on race had become clear.[22] After the rally, McInnes issued a statement that neither the Proud Boys nor the Alt-Knights were alt-right.[26]

Criminal charges against Proud Boys[edit]

Kyle Chapman[edit]

In August 2017, Chapman was charged with possessing a lead-filled stick that he allegedly used to strike protesters at a rally in Berkeley, California on March 4.[27] Chapman has two past felony convictions – a 1993 felony robbery conviction in Texas and a 2001 grand theft conviction in California.[28] Due to his past criminal history and the violent nature of the Texas robbery, Chapman could receive a double sentence under California’s "Three Strikes" law and faces a maximum sentence of seven to eight years in prison if convicted.[29] He has previously spent a total of ten years in prison for the 1993 and 2001 convictions.[30]

Alex Ramos[edit]

Proud Boy Alex Ramos was charged in the beating of DeAndre Harris at the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August of 2017.[31] Harris, a 20-year-old African American man, was cornered and beaten in a parking garage by six men from the rally, allegedly including Ramos. Security cameras show six men circling Harris and severely beating him with sticks and possibly other objects as he lay on the concrete. Harris suffered significant injuries, including a broken wrist, a spinal injury, and a head injury that required 10 staples.[32][33]

Ten Tenets[edit]

The ten tenets of the Proud Boys are: 1) “venerating the housewife,” 2) closing all prisons, 3) arming the citizenry with guns, 4) legalizing drugs, 5) ending welfare, 6) ending immigration, 7) banning censorship, 8) glorifying entrepreneurs, 9) recognizing “the West is the Best,” and 10) “shutting down the government.”[34]

Unofficial uniform[edit]

The Proud Boys have adopted a black Fred Perry polo shirt with yellow piping as their unofficial uniform.[35] A different color of Fred Perry shirts has also been worn by a sect of skinheads who aligned with the British National Front in the 1970s. [36] Fred Perry’s CEO John Flynn denounced the affiliation with the Proud Boys in a statement to CBC Radio saying, "We don't support the ideals or the group that you speak of. It is counter to our beliefs and the people we work with.”[37]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Mike Carter, Seattle police wary of May Day violence between pro- and anti-Trump groups, Seattle Times (May 1, 2017).
  2. ^ a b Colleen Long, 11 arrests at NYU protest over speech by 'Proud Boys' leader, Associated Press (February 3, 2017): "a far-right men's organization"
  3. ^ a b Tasker, John Paul. "Head of Canada's Indigenous veterans group hopes Proud Boys don't lose their CAF jobs". CBC. CBC. Retrieved July 6, 2017. 
  4. ^ Paige St. John & Veronica Rocha, Conservative and alt-right groups gather for 'free speech' rally in Berkeley, Los Angeles Times (April 27, 2017): "far right group Proud Boys..."
  5. ^ Osnos, Evan (February 6, 2017). "Trump Supporters at the DeploraBall". The New Yorker. Retrieved March 6, 2017. 
  6. ^ Andrew Marantz, The Alt-Right Branding War Has Torn the Movement in Two, The New Yorker (July 6, 2017).
  7. ^ a b "The fratty Proud Boys are the alt right’s weirdest new phenomenon". Medium.com. Retrieved March 10, 2017. 
  8. ^ Disser, Nicole (July 28, 2016). Gavin McInnes and his Proud Boys want to make white men great again. Bedfordandbowery.com
  9. ^ Harriot, Michael (April 26, 2017). "Meet the New Military Division of White Nationalism". The Root. Retrieved April 26, 2017. 
  10. ^ Bill Morlin (April 25, 2017). "New Alt-Right "Fight Club" Ready for Street Violence". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved May 12, 2017. 
  11. ^ Ellis, Emma Grey (May 22, 2017). "Your Handy Field Guide To The Many Factions Of The Far Right, From The Proud Boys To Identity Evropa". Wired. 
  12. ^ Proud Boys: ‘Willing to go places and disrupt things’ Toronto Sun (July 6, 2017)
  13. ^ Morlin, Bill (April 25, 2017). "New Alt-Right "Fight Club" Ready for Street Violence". Southern Poverty Law Center. 
  14. ^ Offenhartz, Jake (February 3, 2017). "Anti-Fascist Protesters Clash With 'Proud Boys' As Gavin McInnes Speaks At NYU". Gothamist. Retrieved March 10, 2017. 
  15. ^ Campbell, Jon (February 15, 2017). "Gavin McInnes Wants You to Know He’s Totally Not a White Supremacist". Village Voice. Retrieved March 10, 2017. 
  16. ^ Feuer, Alan; Peters, Jeremy W. (2 June 2017). "Fringe Groups Revel as Protests Turn Violent". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 August 2017. 
  17. ^ For many at violent Berkeley rally, it wasn't really about Trump or free speech: They came to make trouble - LA Times
  18. ^ Alt Right ‘Proud Boys’ Declare Victory In Berkeley Melee « CBS San Francisco
  19. ^ Elizabeth McMillan (July 4, 2017). "Forces members who disrupted Indigenous rally face 'severe consequences'". CBC. Retrieved July 10, 2017. 
  20. ^ Roache, Trina (2017-07-05). "The military apologizes while a grandmother demands action on “Proud Boys” behavior". APTN National News. Retrieved 2017-07-25. 
  21. ^ http://globalnews.ca/news/3669279/investigation-into-proud-boys-incident-in-halifax-concluded-military-official/
  22. ^ a b Houpt, Simon (18 August 2017). "Vice co-founder Gavin McInnes’s path to the far-right frontier". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 August 2017. 
  23. ^ Strickland, Patrick (13 August 2017). "Unite the Right: White supremacists rally in Virginia". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 August 2017. 
  24. ^ Porter, Tom (12 August 2017). "Who are the alt-right leaders and provocateurs addressing the Charlottesville white nationalist rally?". Newsweek. Retrieved 21 August 2017. 
  25. ^ Lind, Dara (12 August 2017). "Unite the Right, the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, explained". Vox. Retrieved 21 August 2017. 
  26. ^ McInnes, Gavin (21 August 2017). "WE ARE NOT ALT-RIGHT". Proud Boys. Retrieved 21 August 2017. 
  27. ^ Kimberly Veklerov, Trump supporter arrested in Berkeley could face lengthy prison term San Francisco Chronicle (August 18, 2017)
  28. ^ Jenna Lyons, Man facing charges from pro-Trump rally in Berkeley put in jailSan Francisco Chronicle (August 25, 2017)
  29. ^ Paige St. John, Far-right activist faces criminal charges in Berkeley violence caught on video Los Angeles Times (August 18, 2017)
  30. ^ Josh Parkinson, Cashing in on the Rise of the Alt-Right, Mother Jones (June 16, 2017)
  31. ^ Steve Burns, Christian Boone, and Chris Joyner, Marietta man wanted in Charlottesville beating in custody The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (August 29, 2017)
  32. ^ Frances Robles, Two Men Arrested in Connection With Charlottesville Violence New York Times (August 26, 2017)
  33. ^ http://www.facebook.com/ianshapira. "Finding the white supremacists who beat a black man in Charlottesville". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-09-01. 
  34. ^ Proud Boys: ‘Willing to go places and disrupt things’ Toronto Sun (July 6, 2017)
  35. ^ Christine Flammia,Fred Perry Wants Nothing to Do With Its Alt-Right Fanboys Esquire (July 10, 21017)
  36. ^ Jake Wolff, The Proud Boys are the latest losers to try to co-opt the classic polo GQ(July 11, 2017)
  37. ^ Fred Perry chairman says he wants nothing to do with Gavin McInnes and his Proud BoysCBC Radio (July 7, 2017)
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