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Oct 76 min read

PSA: THE PROUD BOYS AND OTHER MISOGYNIST/MALE-CENTERED GROUPS POSE SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO CIVILIANS AND OFFICIALS; LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD MONITOR RALLIES, PROTESTS, AND ELECTION EVENTS

Oliver Waters, Dominic Bianco, Jacob Robison, Samuel Pearson NORTHCOM

Alice Cian, Finley Thomas, Editor; Jennifer Loy, Chief Editor

October 7, 2024

Map Showing the Number of Proud Boys’ Chapters Per State[1]


Introduction

Misogynist and male-centered far-right groups have been persistently present in the US in the last few decades.[2] Since the January 6, 2021 Insurrection, the Proud Boys are actively recruiting members online, reacting to political news, and contemplating the possibility of violent action.[3] The Proud Boys and other similar groups adhere to anti-feminist and nationalistic ideologies, identifying themselves as ‘Western Chauvinists’[4] who support former president Donald Trump and a return to “traditional” gender roles, including removing women from the workplace. Historically, the Proud Boys have been involved in physical confrontations with counter-protestors, such as the 2019 fight resulting in rioting charges against a Proud Boy member at a Portland cidery. [5] Group members harassed LGBTQ+ campaigners at pride events and pro-choice advocates on multiple instances during 2023.[6] Law enforcement identified and charged multiple members with different crimes including seditious conspiracy related to the Insurrection.[7] As the 2024 election season approaches, the Proud Boys likely pose a significant threat, particularly for women and minorities. To aid their political goals of prohibiting abortion, the Proud Boys will likely intimidate and harass local election officials and pro-choice campaigners in states where abortion legislation is on the ballot. The Proud Boys will likely express their support for Trump and other far-right candidates through intimidation directed toward voters at rallies and on social media to achieve their political goals. Law enforcement and political campaign staff should take measures to ensure their safety through monitoring and implementing active security measures to ensure their safety. Voters should refrain from directly engaging with the Proud Boys and other misogynist groups at protests and rallies to avoid the risk of physical confrontations.


Summary

In the first half of 2022, the Proud Boys appeared and at times harassed campaigners at 28 different LGBTQ+ and reproductive justice events.[8] There were seven instances of physical confrontations between the Proud Boys and LGBTQ+ advocates in 2023.[9] In the upcoming election, abortion legislation will be on ballots in 10 US states, including Arizona, New York, and Florida.[10] As of 2023, Southern Poverty Law Conference (SPLC) data shows that the Proud Boys had 14 chapters located within these states with six groups located in Florida and five in New York.[11] The Proud Boys’ misogynist rhetoric is intertwined with other far-right ideologies including racism and homophobia, all being used on 4Chan to justify anti-abortion beliefs.[12] On internet forums, male supremacist groups and individuals sharing hatred towards women, trans-people, and nonbinary individuals have formed a decentralized network linked to multiple instances of violence including the 2023 lone-wolf attack on a shopping mall in Allen, Texas that killed eight people[13] and the 2018 Toronto van attack that killed 10 people and wounded 14.[14]


In the lead-up to the January 6, 2021 Insurrection, the Proud Boys’ members viewed themselves “as the tip of the spear.”[15] During this period, the Proud Boys wore patches with nationalist slogans including “Right Wing Death Squad” to intimidate political protesters.[16] Since 2021, Federal Courts charged 54 members for their involvement in the Insurrection with the majority of cases being assault and riot charges, although other crimes including murder, harassment, and conspiracy to destroy a building were also prosecuted.[17] The Proud Boys have continued to support Trump following the Insurrection, with members attending one of Trump’s rallies on May 11, 2024, in Wildwood, New Jersey.[18] After Trump's indictment in May 2024, the Proud Boys posted a recruitment video reiterating election fraud claims and calling for violence against political opponents.[19] In response to Trump’s September 2024 claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were eating animals, far-right groups, including the Proud Boys, rallied in the city, demonstrating a willingness to act.[20] The Proud Boys have similarly attended other far-right rallies, such as a February 2024 pro-gun rally held by the white nationalist group, the Arizona College Republican Union (CRU).[21]


Analysis

The Proud Boys will almost certainly support far-right political causes at both local and national levels during the 2024 election, likely through the harassment of Democrat campaigners and election staff. The Proud Boys will likely prioritize an established and vocal presence at rallies and outside of government buildings in states where abortion law and LGBTQ+ issues are on the ballot, such as Florida and New York, likely to intimidate local voters and elected officials and disrupt electoral proceedings. Local chapters leading these efforts will likely use social media platforms including Telegram and Gab to coordinate their efforts on a regional level, likely allowing them to attend multiple rallies across target states simultaneously. The Proud Boys’ social media activity will likely reach a broader audience of online far-right extremists, including Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs), Incels, and affiliated groups such as the CRU in Arizona, to increase manpower for pivotal days of the election process, including results and certification day.


The Proud Boys will likely utilize a variety of public intimidation tactics including establishing a presence at rallies, protests, and on social media. Members at rallies and protests will likely wear identifiable uniforms, including branded shirts, hats, and bulletproof vests, likely with far-right slogans to intimidate political opponents. The Proud Boys will very likely continue their high level of activity on social media, likely spreading disinformation about Harris and immigration, across public and private online platforms. The Proud Boys’ affiliates will almost certainly be gathered in Washington DC on election day, and will likely participate in any protest or violent action if Trump loses the election.


Recommendations

  • The Counterterrorism Group (CTG) recommends that all levels of law enforcement monitor the Proud Boys’ activity. Federal law enforcement should closely watch known gathering places and track online activity. Local, state, and federal law enforcement should collaborate through intelligence sharing and guidance about threat mitigation. Local law enforcement should increase security measures in areas where the Proud Boys’ chapters are active and possible target locations of violence such as Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics. 

  • Campaigns and their staff, particularly the Harris and Walz campaign’s staff members, must implement robust security measures, such as thorough vetting of security personnel and surveying venues before arrival, and preparation plans for all campaign-related activities, including events and travel, to mitigate the risk of harm. Presidential campaigns should cooperate with the US Secret Service (USSS) to ensure all details of any plans are established and followed properly. State and local campaigns that do not have direct access to USSS protection should collaborate with non-federal law enforcement agencies to create emergency plans and assess risks.

  • Civilians should exercise caution due to the possible presence of the Proud Boys and other far-right groups at protests, rallies, and voting locations. Given the Proud Boys’ history of violent confrontations and physical fights, civilians should avoid directly confronting far-right group members if possible. Civilians should monitor the news for information about protests and planned gatherings and make informed decisions about attending or avoiding certain locations. Civilians who witness or experience harassment or violence should contact the authorities.

 

[2] The Proud Boys are back: How the far-right group is rebuilding to rally behind Trump, Reuters, June 2024, https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-election-proudboys/ 

[3] Ibid

[4] “Proud Boys Crimes and Characteristics”,  National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) University of Maryland, 2022,https://www.start.umd.edu/sites/default/files/publications/local_attachments/Proud%20Boy%20Crimes%20and%20Characteristics%20January%202022%20FINAL.pdf

[5] Proud Boys, Anti-Defamation League, December 2023, https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/proud-boys-0 

[6] Proud Boys Aid the Right-Wing Assault on the LGBTQ Community and Reproductive Justice, The Southern Poverty Law Center, July 2022,

[7] Proud Boys Aid the Right-Wing Assault on the LGBTQ Community and Reproductive Justice, The Southern Poverty Law Center, July 2022, https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2022/07/13/proud-boys-aid-right-wing-assault-lgbtq-community-and-reproductive-justice

[8] Ibid

[9] The Proud Boys are back: How the far-right group is rebuilding to rally behind Trump, Reuters, June 2024, https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-election-proudboys/

[10] See where Abortion is on the Ballot Across the US,The New York Times, September 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/us/politics/abortion-ballot-states.html

[11] IN 2023 WE TRACKED 104 GENERAL HATE GROUPS ACROSS THE US, Southern Poverty Law Center, https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map?ideology=other 

[12] ANTI-ABORTION RHETORIC ON 4CHAN STRETCHES BEYOND SINGLE-ISSUE EXTREMISM, Southern Poverty Law Center, 2024, https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2024/09/05/anti-abortion-rhetoric-4chan-stretches-beyond-single-issue-extremism

[14] Alek Minassian Toronto van attack suspect praised 'incel' killer, BBC News, April 2018, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43883052

[15] Prosecutor: Proud Boys viewed themselves as ‘Trump’s army’, AP, April 2023, https://apnews.com/article/proud-boys-enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-trial-4dc5d0d36bc4c39ea924412dbb51780b

[16] The Proud Boys are back: How the far-right group is rebuilding to rally behind Trump, Reuters, June 2024, https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-election-proudboys/

[17] “Proud Boys Crimes and Characteristics”,  National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) University of Maryland, 2022,https://www.start.umd.edu/sites/default/files/publications/local_attachments/Proud%20Boy%20Crimes%20and%20Characteristics%20January%202022%20FINAL.pdf

[19] Ibid

[20] In parroting a lie about migrants in Springfield, Ohio, Trump excites extremists, NPR, September 2024, https://www.npr.org/2024/09/24/nx-s1-5118438/neo-nazi-haitian-springfield-trump-debate 

[21] EXTREMISM HEADLINES: NEO-NAZI RALLY, TRUE THE VOTE ELECTION DENIAL, BIGGS AT PROUD BOYS EVENT, Southern Poverty Law Center, February 2024, https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2024/02/23/extremism-headlines-neo-nazi-rally-true-vote-election-denial-biggs-proud-boys-event

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