'Racist street fighters and an anti-government militia': Understanding the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers

[bostonangler]

Armed protesters are slated to start a days or weeks long demonstration in front of a congresswoman's office today in the name of the Constitution.

The Oath Keepers are just one of two right-wing groups that are planning public protests today and in the coming weeks, each with distinct philosophies and procedures.

The other group is the Proud Boys, a group who have been connected to violent protests in the past year, who are planning a rally in Portland, Oregon, on Aug. 4.

But the narrative that both groups paint of themselves, unsurprisingly, differs at points from that of outside hate group experts and religious advocates.

"The difference is that the Proud Boys are racist street fighters and the Oath Keepers are an anti-government militia," said Heidi Beirich, the director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center which tracks hate groups, though the head of the Proud Boys disputes that definition.

Here is a breakdown of the two right-wing groups.

Who are the Oath Keepers?

The group defines themselves as "a non-partisan association of current and formerly serving military, police, and first responders, who pledge to fulfill the oath all military and police take to 'defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic,'" according to their website.

They directly state that they "will not obey unconstitutional orders, such as orders to disarm the American people, to conduct warrantless searches, or to detain Americans as 'enemy combatants' in violation of their ancient right to jury trial."

The group is planning a protest outside the office of California Rep. Maxine Waters today. Waters is warning her supporters to avoid engaging with the group, which she says has a history of attempting to provoke violence. She released a statement ahead of their protest, calling them "an anti-government militia that has staged armed protests in cities across the country."

"The Oath Keepers have a history of engaging in violent and provocative behavior. The group is known to protest in military-style clothing while carrying various assault rifles. The Oath Keepers would like nothing more than to inflame racial tensions and create an explosive conflict in our community," Waters' statement reads.

For their part, the Oath Keepers call Waters a "terrorist inciter" and they have coupled their protest with a rally in support of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as Border Patrol.

Beirich said that the coupling of their demonstration against Waters combined with immigration concerns is "a classic example of them taking advantage of a political moment to promote their message."

She said that the group was much more focused on the idea that the federal government was out of control during the Obama administration, stressing government overreach, but the relatively new addition of immigration and border control as a cause is "a little bit different than in the past."

Beirich reiterated that the traditional target of the Oath Keepers protests tend to be the government or what they see as government overreach, and she likened them to a militia.

"They've shown up at a lot of instances where anti-government activists have refused to comply with the law," Beirich said, noting that while typically armed, "we haven't seen violence break out between Oath Keepers and counter protesters."

One of the most high-profile examples of their involvement in such a stand off was the when they gathered in Ferguson, Missouri, to protect the businesses of the town when they were in the midst of protests in the winter of 2014.

Another came earlier that year when they showed up in support of rancher Cliven Bundy in his standoff with the Bureau of Land Management.

"They're often heavily armed, and they show up at moments of sort of social unrest," Beirich said.

Gavin McInnes, the founder of the Proud Boys, specifically addressed the differences between the Oath Keepers and his group, saying the Oath Keepers "are almost PC."

"These guys are very, very careful about any Jewish s---. They won't go to the same rally if someone who's anti-Semitic's going to be there. They're the [Social Justice Warriors] of the fringe right, as they're called," McInnes said in a video posted on his group's website.

Who are the Proud Boys?

According to McInnes, who was one of the co-founders of Vice Media before leaving the organization years ago, the Proud Boys are a "multi-racial group made up of straight guys -- there're some homos in there, there are plenty of Jews. The only pre-requisite is that you're a dude -- born a dude -- and you accept the West as the best," he said in a video posted on their group's website.

A sticking point for the group that identifies as "Western chauvinists" is the colloquial understanding of chauvinism as being sexist. They interpret the word with the traditional definition which means someone who is aggressively patriotic.

"Yes we're chauvinist. Chauvinist doesn't mean sexist. Chauvinist means extremely patriotic," Mcinnes said, adding that "we're mostly pro-Trump."

Ibrahim Hooper, the communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said that groups including both the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers have seen their presences grow in the wake of Trump.

"What we have seen in recent years is that convergence between Islamaphobic groups and racist and white supremacist groups," Hooper told ABC News.

"All of these groups have been empowered and emboldened with the rise of Donald Trump both as candidate and as president, in our opinion," he said.

One distinction that the group makes an effort to distinguish themselves from is neo-Nazis, and in larger part they argue that they are not racist.

In a video titled "We Don't Let Nazis in Proud Boys," McInnes says that he "danced around" the idea of allowing Nazis, who he says exist in far fewer numbers than publicized, into his group for two reasons: "the Jews and the blacks."

He says in the video: "I don't mind talking about Jews...but you can't stop talking about it but why are you so obsessed with Hitler. He's one guy. You don't hear people talking about Stalin or Mao all the time."

The "bigger" reason for separating themselves from Nazis is, he says, in defense of the black men who join the Proud Boys, who he says have had to make a concerted effort to get out of the "mass conformity that black people push on each other" which he says relates to the belief "that America is a racist hellhole."

"When a chosen one wanders through the desert and ends up with us, I'm in no way allowing him to feel uncomfortable in this last little vestige of sanity where we encourage western chauvinism," McInnes says.

While the group themselves draws a line, Beirich notes that the "Proud Boys have shown up at events that feature a lot of white supremacists," and adds that "the thing about them is [that they participate in] street fighting, which is kind of shocking."

One thing they don't deny being is violent.

There are videos online that purport to show members of the Proud Boys punching members of the left-wing antifa, or anti-fascist groups, at various protests in the past year.

For his part, McInnes said in a video on their site, "Of course we're drifting into violence. I'm sorry we bring a stick to a rally where people are trying to kill us because you told the police to stand down. I'm sorry we don't enjoy being pepper sprayed."

Portland, Oregon, was the site of multiple violent clashes between warring protesters in the past year, where one of the incidents included a video-taped punch.

In September 2017, the protest in Portland wasn't limited but included members of the Proud Boys, and it prompted the city's mayor Ted Wheeler to issue a warning.

"Portland rejects racism, bigotry, and xenophobia. We reject white supremacy. Messages of hate are not welcome in Portland. We have seen – far too often – how these words of hate can quickly turn to acts of violence. Portland also rejects violence," Wheeler said in a statement at the time.

Beirich echoed the Proud Boys' connection to violence.

"We hadn't really seen serious street fighting since Charlottesville," Beirich said referencing the alt-right protests in Virginia in August 2017.

"This group is becoming very radical and they're getting really in the face of left wing protesters or antifascists, antifa," she said

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/racist-street-fighters-anti-government-militia-understanding-proud-213304151--abc-news-topstories.html

 

 

B/A

[Indraman]

The Proud Boys are planning another event in Portland early August. My two brothers and I are thinking about going because we thought it would be amusing to see how ANTIFA, BLM, and BAM get their Ar$$ handed to them when they incite violence again. The last event was quite amusing.

 

Indy

[Indraman]

One thing I have noticed is that the men who align with the LEFT wing groups tend to be effeminate and small in stature and heart. When they confront the typical "toxic masculinity" effusing from the men in the Proud Boys, it is like watching Junior High boys fighting adult men.

 

😁

 

Indy

[yota691]

 

[bostonangler]

It is funny that here on DV I don't see people on the left defending violence or Waters calling for such things, but on the right there are people here applauding the violent element... No one on either side should be amused by the violence being called for by anyone...

 

B/A 

[Indraman]

3 hours ago, bostonangler said:

It is funny that here on DV I don't see people on the left defending violence or Waters calling for such things, but on the right there are people here applauding the violent element... No one on either side should be amused by the violence being called for by anyone...

 

B/A 

 

Hope this comment wasn't directed towards me...as most know, I have never promoted violence or would ever promote violence. But when people who are actively exercising their right to protest in a peaceful manner and are attacked by Left-wing antagonist, GAME ON!!!

 

Indy

Edited July 20, 2018 by Indraman

[Theseus]

 

The gloves in the picture above are hard knuckle gloves as sold on Amazon. This is gear wear by almost all Anitfa that are black leather gloves. Notice the opponent has no gloves. I can show other videos of Antifa with aluminum bats, knives, and other weapons. Antifa is also known to put locks in socks, use M80's and other weapons. There hasn't been a peaceful protest by the left since time began. Antifa always try to bait violence and then when it happens always blames their opposition or they acted in self-defense as in this video below:

 

 

 No one on the right used acid like antifa did in this video

 

 

Quit with the right is violent bs.

[Indraman]

Stefan Molyneux & Lauren Southern On Sky News About White Genocide And Race & IQ

 

 

Seems to me, the LEFT has taken the approach that violence is how to argue with those you disagree with...isn't it interesting that most Libertarians and those on the RIGHT say the first approach should be to listen and debate those who you may disagree with. Two totally different approaches with one common outcome that is becoming apparent over and over and over...the LEFT attacking those they don't agree with.

 

Indy

[md11fr8dawg]

Hey BA, from where I stand it is the left protesters who move to violence first. And if I am physically attacked for voicing my opinion then damn right "Game On".  If some guy walked up and clocked you for no good reason and you had done nothing to provoke him, I would guess you would return the favor and defend yourself. Too many of these tough guy snowflakes want to stir up trouble. No one is going to get in my face, threaten me or my family and have me just stand there and take it, or cower and walk away.

[bostonangler]

32 minutes ago, md11fr8dawg said:

Hey BA, from where I stand it is the left protesters who move to violence first. And if I am physically attacked for voicing my opinion then damn right "Game On".  If some guy walked up and clocked you for no good reason and you had done nothing to provoke him, I would guess you would return the favor and defend yourself. Too many of these tough guy snowflakes want to stir up trouble. No one is going to get in my face, threaten me or my family and have me just stand there and take it, or cower and walk away.

 

I totally agree with self defense... And I never said the left wing wackos are not provoking violence like some comments above have tried to twist my words to make it seem I'm saying that doesn't happen. I said people here on DV were the ones I was talking about. There are a few lefties here and I don't see them applauding the left's violent acts... I can't say the same for some of the righties here who do applaud the right wing wackos acts... That's all I said. Here on DV the people on the left seem more tolerant the those on the right... That's it..

 

B/A

[Theseus]

On 7/20/2018 at 12:45 PM, bostonangler said:

It is funny that here on DV I don't see people on the left defending violence or Waters calling for such things, but on the right there are people here applauding the violent element... No one on either side should be amused by the violence being called for by anyone...

 

B/A 

Excuse me, Maxine Waters exact words were this

 

Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters, calling for attacks on the Trump administration at a rally in Los Angeles Saturday: “If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.”

 

Given the track record of Antifa and other violent groups that have become mobilized through the divisiveness Congress critter Waters has put forth and other ilk like  her begs the question:

 

How the hell does Maxine Waters see this playing out? He rhetoric is an implicit call to do whatever you have to do to shut up those on the right. To the whackos out there on the left that are in full snowflake mode, their frustration and history has shown when people do not get their ideological way, that they resort to intimidation to include violent acts. It is funny the difference between previous protests by the Tea Party and the Occupy Movement (pre-cursor to antifa) protests. One of the most significant differences was how they left the area of the protest. With Tea Party protests, very minima damage, not a whole lot of trash to clean up and all in all peaceful. Take the opposite side of the spectrum with the Occupy protestors and you have damage done to businesses, you have rape, you have violence and you have the grounds littered with trash in which tax money has to be used to clean up. When a protest becomes violent it is no longer a protest, it becomes a riot. 

 

Whether or not you condone the actions of the violence perpetrated by voicing such, the left by not speaking out against the violence and to their own side, not just to their ideological opposition, is the same as if a person were to drive the car for a bank robber, and the bank robber were to rob the bank and commit murder while doing, that driver is equally guilty in the commission of murder as the one who pulled the trigger. To not step up and stop what is happening empowers those who see no resistance in furthering their acts as if one were to say it openly. To say nothing is approval as this is a conditioned response of animal behavior including humans. Instead of saying well no one is defending these actions, why aren't they saying these actions should not continue and should be stopped in a civilized society. It is not enough to say no one is defending them because by the silence you are defending them and allowing the violence to continue unabated. Anyone in their right mind would be all over the acid attacks (something the Copts know all too well about from the muslims in Egypt). 

 

So please Maxine Waters as a duly elected Congresswoman will never openly call for violence; however, she knows all too well by implicitly calling for it is not illegal and will not get her kicked out of office. Saying her words push the boundary but do not cross them is assinine at its worst. She knows all too well what those words she spews will lead to because no matter what people will be people and they will always act that way. Waters not calling for violence, bah| it's a coward who believes that or her words will not result in violence. Just wait until the first leftist nutjob gets shot or killed for doing what she says. It's bound to happen.

 

[Indraman]

10 hours ago, bostonangler said:

 

I totally agree with self defense... And I never said the left wing wackos are not provoking violence like some comments above have tried to twist my words to make it seem I'm saying that doesn't happen. I said people here on DV were the ones I was talking about. There are a few lefties here and I don't see them applauding the left's violent acts... I can't say the same for some of the righties here who do applaud the right wing wackos acts... That's all I said. Here on DV the people on the left seem more tolerant the those on the right... That's it..

 

B/A

 

Large Numbers of Supposedly Tolerant LIBERALS support Execution of Laura Southern...

 

 

Indy

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

They've come after TheOathKeepers now...?

 

Oh hell to the no !

 

We used to be amused by their antics...

the cowardly cornering of Pam Bondi like a mouse in a movie house lobby is one thing....

 

but coming after TheOathKeepers is where we draw the line. 

Now they've pushed these two 'OlGals too far. 

We stand with TheOathKeepers !   

[Indraman]

Jeanine: The Anger Of The LEFT In America Is Out Of Control...

 

 

TDS Trump Derangement Syndrome) is alive and well in the LEFT...

 

Indy

[new york kevin]

On 7/20/2018 at 9:45 AM, bostonangler said:

It is funny that here on DV I don't see people on the left defending violence or Waters calling for such things, but on the right there are people here applauding the violent element... No one on either side should be amused by the violence being called for by anyone...

 

B/A 

Isn't it terrible for you BA and the like, when  good men stand-up to defend the innocent from the calls of harassment, and out right attacks. from the likes of Maxine Waters and the American Neo-Nazi group known as Antifa . Yes, persons that use every tactic the Nazi's used to rise to power in post WW I , by any other name the use, are still Nazi's .

[bostonangler]

On ‎7‎/‎21‎/‎2018 at 1:40 PM, Theseus said:

Excuse me, Maxine Waters exact words were this

 

Why do you guys live in denial??? I said plainly, she is an idiot and I certainly don't support her... But people here act as though I never said I think she needs to go.

SHE NEEDS TO GO!!!

In my l statement I was talking only about DV. I said she is not being applauded by people on this site... If someone on this site applauded her actions please show me where I haven't seen it. Why do people struggle with being honest... After I said people here on DV, the haters take it to a completely different subject. Yes I know there are idiots who support her... Just like there are idiots who join the ranks of the Nazi right... I'm not saying there are any here on DV.

 

B/A