Before the Capitol riot even took place, groups like the Proud Boys were already making it known they were prepared to act a fool on Jan. 6. The leader of the group pleaded guilty to burning a Black Lives Matter banner during a violent demonstration in Washington D.C., last December.
Earlier this year, The Root reported that 37-year-old Enrique Tarrio was arrested on Jan. 3 in relation to the incident. Tarrio was among those who participated in a demonstration that resulted in property damage, people getting stabbed, and a banner being ripped from the Asbury United Methodist Church and set ablaze. The violence was so bad that D.C. churches requested special protection ahead of the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6.
NBC News reports Tarrio pleaded guilty to charges of destruction of property and attempting to possess a high-capacity gun magazine on Monday before D.C. Superior Court Judge Harold Cushenberry. Both charges are misdemeanors which carry punishments of up to six months in jail. Tarrio will be sentenced next month.
Asbury United Methodist Church is one of the oldest Black churches in the area, and Tarrio said if he knew the banner was stolen from the church he wouldn’t have set it on fire. “If I would have known that the banner came from a church, it wouldn’t have been burned. I had nothing to do with the stealing of the banner,” Tarrio said while appearing in court via video.
Source: Proud Boys Leader Pleads Guilty to Burning Black Lives Matter Banner Stolen From D.C. Church
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