Members sometimes refer to the group as a fraternity, or a "drinking club with a patriotism problem." Like other gangs, members receive nicknames. In a 2017 interview with the podcaster Joe Rogan, McInnes called the group an all-male "gang," focused on drinking. The group was founded by Gavin McInnes, a far-right political commentator from Canada who also co-founded Vice magazine. Investigations Antifa Didn't Storm The Capitol. Nordean goes by the nickname "Rufio Panman," a reference to Hook, the 1991 family movie set in the Peter Pan universe. The group takes its name from a song in the Broadway musical version of Disney's Aladdin. But the group's use of seemingly outlandish rituals and even childish language can mask its danger. And Biggs' lawyer declined to comment.įrom its inception in 2016, the Proud Boys have been steeped in violence. But it remains to be seen how years' worth of extremist rhetoric, and at times involvement with real violence, will play into the federal case against the group. That forms much of the basis for the government's argument that Nordean and Biggs should be locked up pending trial on conspiracy and other charges.Īn examination of hours of interviews and statements from Biggs, Nordean and other Proud Boys leaders shows that in addition to the group's often hateful and discriminatory ideology, violence has always been at the core of the group's identity. After years of the Proud Boys largely escaping scrutiny from law enforcement, the cases brought by the government could result in prison time for leading members of the group.īut prosecutors say Biggs and Nordean pose a danger to the public because of their particular ability to incite fellow Proud Boys and others to commit violence. "But justified violence is amazing."įederal prosecutors now allege that Nordean, 30, along with fellow Proud Boy Joe Biggs, 37, saw former President Donald Trump's calls to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election as justification to launch a conspiracy to bring violence and chaos to the Capitol on Jan. "Violence isn't great," Nordean said not long after the incident, paraphrasing the founder of the Proud Boys. In fact, the far-right extremist group has celebrated the video of that punch as a rallying cry for more than two years, playing and replaying it, turning it into memes and even at least one painting. In the end, Nordean, a former bodybuilder, faced no legal consequences for knocking out the man. The counterprotester had used a metal baton to strike first, and the Proud Boys leader, Ethan Nordean, claimed self-defense. In June 2018, a member of the Proud Boys punched a counterprotester in the jaw, shoved him into the pavement in Portland, Ore., and sent him to the hospital with a serious concussion. At least 25 people charged in the attack appear to have links to the Proud Boys, according to court documents.Įditor's Note: This story includes explicit language. Pro-Trump rioters, including members of the far-right extremist group the Proud Boys, gather near the U.S.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |