Proud Boys lose trademark to their own name to Black church they attacked

The far-right group Proud Boys has lost control of its trademarked name. A Washington, D.C., judge ruled to transfer the trademark to a Black church that was attacked by members of the group four years ago, marking a significant victory for the church.

Judge Tanya M. Chutkan's ruling aims to enforce a $2.8 million (approximately AU$4.5 million) default judgment issued against the Proud Boys in 2023 by another Washington, D.C., judge, to compensate the church for damages suffered during the December 2020 attack. The order states that all rights of the group in the "Proud Boys" trademark are to be transferred to the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The ruling also stipulates that the Proud Boys organization and its related personnel must first obtain the church's consent before using the trademark or selling any merchandise bearing it. This means any revenue the group generates through the use of the trademark must be paid to the church to help satisfy the multi-million dollar default judgment, effectively limiting their ability to profit from their brand.

The church's leader, Reverend William H. Lamar IV, told CNN: "The church has long championed justice and stood against all forms of hate. We are determined to hold the Proud Boys accountable and will continue this fight," demonstrating the church's commitment to seeking justice and combating hate.

Former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio, in a lengthy statement posted on X, said the church "must be subjected to a thorough audit and its non-profit status should be immediately revoked." He wrote, "The church has engaged in a campaign of harassment and lies, as evidenced by every motion they have filed," indicating a continued adversarial stance despite the legal setback.

Tarrio had previously been sentenced to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy but was pardoned last month by President Donald Trump as part of a sweeping clemency action that included pardons for many involved in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack and reduced sentences for other Proud Boys members, raising questions about the implications of such pardons.

In 2023, another Washington, D.C., judge described the December 2020 attack on the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church as "highly planned" and involving "hateful and overt acts of racism from Proud Boys members." Judge Neal E. Kravitz's order noted that several individuals wearing "Proud Boys" garb "jumped over the fence of the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, entered onto the Church’s property, and walked directly to the 'Black Lives Matter' sign."

"They then snapped the zip ties holding the sign in place, tore down the sign, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it while loudly celebrating," the order stated. "Thereafter, numerous other individuals jumped over the fence onto the Church’s property and joined in the celebration of the sign’s destruction," highlighting the deliberate and public nature of the act of vandalism.