Mastodawn

donuts May 14, 2023

Yesterday in the IE (inland empire, southern california, United States, for those unfamiliar) proud boys escalated their tactics significantly. The last several months they have been doing banner drops about once a month and have been thwarted by a rapid response network of local anti fascists who respond to remove the banners.

Yesterday they laid a trap. They put a banner up on a billboard slightly off the beaten path near an abandoned house. They have done this before, but this time they had lookouts and several members masked up and hiding near the banner waiting for anti fascists to come and remove it.

Anti fascists ran up and removed the banner once the lookout, IDed as local proud boy Louie Flores, left in his car to do a lap. Shortly after the anti fascists drove off with the banner, multiple black clad presumably proud boys emerged from hiding behind the billboard, possibly in the abandoned house or surrounding brush. They were seen getting into Louie's car when he returned and driving off.

If is unclear what they planned to do, or why they did not take action. It is possible that their lookout abandoning his post briefly once he'd been spotted meant they were not alerted about people approaching to remove the banner. It is possible that they were expecting a local anti fascist mom who bullies them on tiktok to be the person who removed the banner, and when different people arrived they abandoned their plan.

What is certain is that this is an escalation from their usual patterns, and someone could have been surrounded and seriously hurt had the situation happened differently. Luckily in addition to the brave folks who ran up the hill to grab the banner, several other anti fascists were also present nearby watching and filming. The decision to wait for backup before moving on the banner was a smart one, and no one from the anti fascist crew was confronted or attacked.

This is a reminder to use the buddy system, carry deterrents like pepper spray, and work together when taking risky actions.

Solidarity forever 🖤❤️🏴

Coach Pāṇini ®May 13, 2023

@temerity These losers need a new hobby.

Colorado Springs Anti-Fascists May 13, 2023

@temerity Bless

Susan Larson ♀️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🌈May 13, 2023

@temerity We as a society need to take steps to make extreme rightwing groups like the Proudboys to be afraid to show themselves in public.

DHS should begin the process to declare these far-right extremist groups as domestic terrorist organizations. There's more than enough justification for that action. Then put the full weight and power of the federal government on destroying the groups, identifying their members, and putting them in federal prison until they are no longer a threat to society

The Good Rev Dr Poop Daddy May 14, 2023

@Susan_Larson_TN @temerity if the feds haven’t done this to the kkk or any other far right group, why would they do it for the proud boys? Never trust the feds to do anything, especially when it’s not in their best interests. Those of us who stand against capitalism and fascism are the bad guys, not their cohorts in far right groups.

kctipton May 13, 2023

@temerity Risky should be the unveiling of the banner, not the removal.

10tothe22 May 13, 2023

This right here.

🪴🌮🥃🍣May 14, 2023

@kctipton @temerity 💯

Kris Samsel May 13, 2023

@temerity Brains always wins. Proud Boys lack 🧠! No cops? Figures. 🔥

lunchy May 14, 2023

@temerity do these nonhumans have anything better to do with their time?

BitcoDavid #ResistTrump May 14, 2023

Deterrents like pepper spray... or a Napoleon Mastiff.

VHasch May 14, 2023

I feel pressed to mention their banner was weak. Stupidly weak.

So.. right in character.

JakeQuokkaMCM May 14, 2023

@temerity someone's mom is missing a bedsheet.
That was a sad dead ender display. A cargo cult.

LukefromDC May 14, 2023

@temerity In some of the same places where Proud Boys are the most dangerous, there is the option of legally carrying a gun as well as pepper spray. Since they also may have guns in such areas(I have seen a poorly-concealed gun on a Proud Boy in Ocala, FL), body armor and sidearms are recommended in such jurisidictions. Since removing illegally posted signs is not a crime, this does not violate any gun laws concerning use of a gun in a "crime."

It is in fact possible these particular Proud Boys expected armed defense against any attack-or just better combat skills than their own. Lots of wannabe SEALS cosplaying in the Proud Boys these days, with so many of their best fighters in prison for J6.

Temerity May 14, 2023

@LukefromDC it's less of a possibility to legally carry a gun in our area. Concealed permits require applying with the sheriff, and the sheriff's that cover this area are extremely right wing (like one was a registered member of the oath keepers, covid denier, threatens and harasses the queer city council rep publicly right wing). For a lot of people it is not worth the risk and exposure to those sheriff's to try to obtain the permit. Generally you need to have a reason the sheriff's department agrees is valid in order to carry, and they do not often think women being scared for their safety against men is a good reason.

LukefromDC May 14, 2023

@temerity That sounds like California or maybe rural MD to have both that kind of gun laws plus a Proud Boys problem. Do NOT consider this a request to reveal your location however.

These kinds of sheriffs btw will become dangerous militia leaders if the US blows apart into civil war