Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Freethinker

Home
Nonreligious
Fascist infighting: Are The Proud Boys are now the Proud Goys?

Fascist infighting: Are The Proud Boys are now the Proud Goys?

Last updated on: November 19, 2020 at 5:43 pm by Barry Duke

Fascist infighting: Are The Proud Boys are now the Proud Goys? 2020-11-19T17:43:22+02:00 Barry Duke

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Image via YouTube

IN THE run-up to the US presidential election, ardent Trump supporter and chairman of the far-right Proud Boys insisted in numerous interviews that his was not a fascist nor a white supremacist outfit. How could be when he, Enrique Tarrio, was black, for chrissake?

Moreover, The Proud Boys – the group that Trump told to “stand back and stand by” during a presidential debate – was open to all, even Jews and members of the LGBT community, so how could it be accused accused of homophobia or anti-Semitism?

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said of the group:

After several years of forging alliances with members of the Republican political establishment, the Proud Boys have carved out a niche for themselves as both a right-wing fight club and a volunteer security force for the GOP. Despite their associations with mainstream politicians, Proud Boys’ actions and statements repeatedly land them in the company of white supremacists and right-wing extremists.

Images via screenshot and Telegram

Well, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and other outlets, an attempt has been made to overthrow Tarrio by one of its most prominent members, Kyle Chapman, above, who declared recently that he had assumed leadership, and rebranded the group Proud Goys.

A goy is the Jewish term for non-Jews that neo-Nazis have tried to appropriate and use to signal their anti-Semitism.

JTA describes Chapman as the founder of a “tactical defence arm” of the Proud Boys known for engaging in street violence.

Chapman revealed in a post on the encrypted chat app Telegram that he had staged a “coup” against Tarrio. He wrote:

Due to the recent failure of Proud Boy Chairman Enrique Tarrio to conduct himself with honor and courage on the battlefield, it has been decided that I Kyle Chapman reassume my post as President of Proud Boys effective immediately. Our logo will forthwith be changed to reflect the core beliefs of Proud Boy members.

We will no longer cuck to the left by appointing token negroes as our leaders. We will no longer allow homosexuals or other ‘undesirables’ into our ranks. We will confront the Zionist criminals who wish to destroy our civilization.

He wrote that the group will now focus on:

The issues of White Genocide, the failures of multiculturalism, and the right for White men and women to have their own countries where White interests are written into law and part of the body politic.

The move came shortly before the group joined other right-wing outfits in Washington, DC, to protest over the way the Democrats “stole” the election through “widespread voter fraud.”

According to this report, The Proud Boys clashed at times with small groups of counter-protesters throughout the day and into the evening.

JTA quoted Tarrio as saying:

I denounce anti-Semitism. I denounce racism. I denounce fascism. I denounce communism and any other -ism that is prejudiced toward people because of their race, religion, culture, tone of skin.

It is unclear how Chapman’s call has been received by others in the group. Other Proud Boys channels on Telegram have not reflected the changes he wants to institute, and a message from the administrator of one said:

No, we are not the Proud Goys. No, Kyle didn’t stage a coup.

Image via YouTube

According to the JTA, The Proud Boys were founded in 2016 by Gavin McInnes, above, a far-right provocateur and misogynist who also co-founded the Vice media brand. The group has billed itself as a “Western chauvinist” fraternal organisation but thus far has insisted that its preference for “Western civilization” was not built on racist or anti-Semitic views. It has a chapter in Israel.

However, the Proud Boys have documented ties to white supremacist groups. McInnes posted videos surrounding a 2017 trip to Israel in which he made anti-Semitic statements. A former Proud Boys member was the organiser of the deadly 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Members are known for wearing gold-and-black Fred Perry polo shirts, which the retailer has discontinued in opposition to the group, and engaging in street brawls with left-wing protesters.

At the first presidential debate in September, when asked if he denounced the group, Trump told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.” Trump later said he didn’t know about the group and told it to “stand down.” But the group adopted “stand back and stand by” as a rallying cry, sparking fears that Trump’s words would encourage far-right groups to foment unrest on Election Day.

• Please report any typos/errors to [email protected]

If you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee – and boy, do I get through a LOT of coffee keeping this site active – please click the link below.

I’d love a cup of coffee

Previous Post

November 18, 2020

Reports of a kid kissing a coffin at a funeral angers Greek church

Next Post

November 20, 2020 Hinduism under increasing threat from 'crazy' Christianity

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Archive My Atheism News Opinion Reviews Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 March 2007 April 2006 February 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who is the author of the Book of Revelation?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Paul Peter Ezekiel John

Books by This Author Books by The Freethinker

See All Titles »