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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Judge Grants the ‘Proud Boys’ Trademark to Black Church, Leader Reacts

Enrique Tarrio

Nationwide — The Proud Boys, a far-right group led by Enrique Tarrio, has lost its right to its trademark after a judge in Washington, D.C. ruled in favor of the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. This decision follows the group’s 2020 attack on the church, where they vandalized the church’s Black Lives Matter sign by tearing it down and stomping on it.

The ruling enforces a $2.8 million default judgment against the Proud Boys, requiring them to compensate the church for damages. As a result, the Proud Boys can no longer use or sell merchandise with their trademark without the church’s approval. Any money earned from the use of the name will go to the church to help cover the damages.

Rev. William H. Lamar IV, the church’s leader, said they are committed to holding the Proud Boys accountable. He told CNN, “The Church has a long history of standing up for justice and against all forms of hate. We are determined to hold the Proud Boys accountable and we will continue this fight.”

In response, Tarrio criticized the ruling, calling for an audit of the church and claiming its non-profit status should be revoked. In his statement posted on X, he said, “This church has engaged in a campaign of harassment and falsehoods, evidenced by their every filed motion.”

However, a separate judge in 2023 had previously described the Proud Boys’ actions in 2020 as “highly orchestrated” and “hateful and overtly racist.”

Tarrio, who was serving a 22-year prison sentence for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack, was recently pardoned by President Trump as part of a broader clemency decision.

This legal ruling delivers a significant legal and financial setback for the Proud Boys, stripping them of their name and directing profits from its use to the church they once targeted.