WASHINGTON — The emblem of a far-right group once synonymous with violent demonstrations has taken on a dramatically different meaning. Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historic Black congregation in Washington, D.C., has secured the official trademark for the name “Proud Boys”—and is now using it to raise funds for the very community that the group once sought to intimidate. Instead of white nationalist slogans, the church’s newly released merchandise displays a bold “PB” encircled by golden laurels, with slogans like “Stay Proud, Stay Black” and “Stay Proud, Black Lives Matter.”
The legal battle that led to this unlikely outcome began in January 2021, when Metropolitan AME sued members of the Proud Boys, including their former leader, Enrique Tarrio, over an attack on the church and another Black congregation, Asbury United Methodist, the previous December. Video footage showed members of the group vandalizing church property, ripping down and destroying Black Lives Matter banners. The lawsuit, filed under the FACE Act, sought damages for trespassing, theft, and destruction of religious property. The church ultimately won in June 2023 and was awarded more than $3 million in restitution, though the defendants have yet to pay.
With no signs of repayment, the church sought an alternative form of justice: ownership of the Proud Boys’ name. The trademark was officially transferred to Metropolitan AME in early February. “Legally, we own their trademark, and we should receive any economic benefit from it,” Reverend William Lamar said during a recent livestream service, where he encouraged the congregation to support the church’s new initiative. The sale of the shirts, priced at $20 each, serves as both a statement and a source of funding for community projects.
Predictably, the Proud Boys have reacted with hostility. Tarrio, who is currently serving time for his role in the January 6 insurrection, took to social media to denounce the church’s legal victory, accusing it of “harassment and falsehoods.” He has also suggested that the group might rebrand under a new name, mocking the church’s claim over their identity. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he lamented his financial state, saying he is “broke” and cannot afford to pay the settlement.
For Metropolitan AME, the decision to take control of the trademark is about more than economics—it is about rewriting history. “We are doing spirit work, soil work, and solidarity work,” Lamar said. “People have asked if we will negotiate and let them use the name. The answer is no. Not under any circumstance.”
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