{"id":110608,"date":"2020-11-19T17:43:22","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T15:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thefreethinker\/?p=110608"},"modified":"2020-11-19T17:43:22","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T15:43:22","slug":"fascist-infighting-are-the-proud-boys-are-now-the-proud-goys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thefreethinker\/2020\/11\/fascist-infighting-are-the-proud-boys-are-now-the-proud-goys\/","title":{"rendered":"Fascist infighting: Are The Proud Boys are now the Proud Goys?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Image via YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

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,<\/strong>\u00a0Enrique Tarrio, was black, for chrissake?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Moreover, The Proud Boys \u2013 the group that Trump told to \u201cstand back and stand by\u201d during a presidential debate \u2013 was open to all, even Jews and members of the LGBT community, so how could it be accused accused of homophobia or anti-Semitism?<\/p>\n

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said of the group<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 Despite their associations with mainstream politicians, Proud Boys\u2019 actions and statements repeatedly land them in the company of white supremacists and right-wing extremists.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Images via screenshot and Telegram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency<\/em><\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

A goy<\/em> is the Jewish term for non-Jews that neo-Nazis have tried to appropriate and use to signal their anti-Semitism.<\/p>\n

JTA<\/em> describes Chapman as the founder of a \u201ctactical defence arm\u201d of the Proud Boys known for engaging in street violence.<\/p>\n

Chapman revealed in a post on the encrypted chat app Telegram<\/em> that he had staged a \u201ccoup\u201d against Tarrio. He wrote<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n

We will no longer cuck to the left by appointing token negroes as our leaders. We will no longer allow homosexuals or other \u2018undesirables\u2019 into our ranks. We will confront the Zionist criminals who wish to destroy our civilization.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He wrote that the group will now focus on:<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The move came shortly before the group\u00a0 joined other right-wing outfits in Washington, DC, to protest over the way the Democrats \u201cstole\u201d the election through \u201cwidespread voter fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to this report<\/a>, The Proud Boys clashed at times with small groups of counter-protesters throughout the day and into the evening.<\/p>\n

JTA<\/em> quoted Tarrio as saying:<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is unclear how Chapman\u2019s call has been received by others in the group. Other Proud Boys channels on Telegram<\/em> have not reflected the changes he wants to institute, and a message from the administrator of one said:<\/p>\n

No, we are not the Proud Goys. No, Kyle didn\u2019t stage a coup.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Image via YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to the JTA,<\/em> The Proud Boys were founded in 2016 by Gavin McInnes<\/a>, above, a far-right provocateur and misogynist who also co-founded the Vice<\/em> media brand. The group has billed itself as a \u201cWestern chauvinist\u201d fraternal organisation but thus far has insisted that its preference for \u201cWestern civilization\u201d was not built on racist or anti-Semitic views. It has a chapter in Israel.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

At the first presidential debate in September, when asked if he denounced the group, Trump told the Proud Boys to \u201cstand back and stand by.\u201d Trump later said he didn\u2019t know about the group and told it to \u201cstand down.\u201d But the group adopted \u201cstand back and stand by\u201d as a rallying cry, sparking fears that Trump\u2019s words would encourage far-right groups to foment unrest on Election Day.<\/p>\n

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