In a significant legal victory, a Black church in Washington, DC, has gained control over the Proud Boys' name and symbols following a "hateful and overtly racist" attack by the group. The assault on Asbury United Methodist Church occurred during the turbulent final days of Donald Trump’s first presidency. This ruling marks a turning point in the church's quest for justice and restitution following the December 2020 attack.
The Proud Boys' actions in Washington DC were part of a series of violent incidents amid Trump’s defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. These hostilities culminated in the deadly January 6 attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters. Among the targeted sites that night were four churches, including Asbury United Methodist Church, where Proud Boys members burned a Black Lives Matter banner and vandalized church property.
Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, a prominent figure in the Proud Boys and a planner of the January 6 Capitol attack, was involved in the church attack. Despite being sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy, Tarrio was among 1,500 individuals pardoned when Trump returned to office in January after defeating Kamala Harris in November's election.
The Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church sought legal recourse to satisfy a $2.8 million judgment related to the December 2020 attack. The church's lawyers aimed to seize proceeds from merchandise featuring the Proud Boys' name, logos, and insignia. Judge Tanya Jones Bosier of Washington DC's superior court granted this request, giving the church authority over how the Proud Boys moniker is used.
This landmark ruling opens avenues for the church to seize any profits from merchandise sales bearing the Proud Boys' name or symbols. The group must now seek permission from the church before using its name or traditional symbols for any revenue-generating activities.
"The people who did this, they need to feel the heat, they need to be put behind bars, and they need to be prosecuted." – Henry “Enrique” Tarrio
Despite his previous statements condemning the attack, Tarrio expressed dissatisfaction with the court's decision. He called for the revocation of the church's non-profit status and even demanded the impeachment of Judge Bosier, who had been appointed to her position by Joe Biden.
"Their actions are a betrayal of justice." – Henry “Enrique” Tarrio
"I hold in contempt any motions, judgments and orders issued against me." – Henry “Enrique” Tarrio
During the attack on Asbury United Methodist Church, several members of the Proud Boys scaled walls and went on a spree of vandalism. This act, along with others committed that night, is part of a broader investigation into extremist activities surrounding the 2020 election period.