By BMB EMPOWER NETWORK
Feb 6, 2025
A significant ruling has been made by a judge in Washington, granting control of the Proud Boys trademark to a historic Black church after the far-right organization failed to meet a $2.8 million judgment.
This decision from D.C. Superior Court empowers the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church with the rights to the Proud Boys name, prohibiting the group's members from marketing any products featuring their name or symbols without the church's approval. Additionally, the ruling enables the church to pursue any profits generated from the sale of the group's merchandise.
The church initiated legal action to recover damages caused by vandalism perpetrated by group members following a pro-Donald Trump rally in December 2020. During this event, Black Lives Matter banners were destroyed and set ablaze at two churches, including the Metropolitan African Methodist Church. The night was marked by violent confrontations between rival protesters, resulting in multiple arrests.
Enrique Tarrio, who was the leader of the Proud Boys at the time, admitted to his involvement in the burnings and subsequently received a sentence of over five months in jail for those actions and other related offenses. He was later sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for his role in orchestrating the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
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