J6th: Proud Boys Rally in Front of Ohio Capitol
For the first time since January 6th, 2021 the extremist group rallied in large numbers.
The Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist gang that was part of the attempted insurrection on January 6th, 2021 has seen most of their leadership sent to prison for lengthy sentences. The former leader of the gang, Enrique Tarrio, is currently serving 22 years for seditious conspiracy. Joey Biggs, a lieutenant was sentenced to 17 years for the same.
Three years on from Jan 6th the group has splintered and in some cases dissolved branches. According to Tess Owen at Vice “data showed just 36 uniformed appearances by one or more Proud Boys across 17 states last year, compared to the 63 appearances across 21 states that we logged in 2022.” As Tess Owens says in the article that you all should read - it doesn’t mean that the danger of extremist groups of younger violent angry men aren’t out there.
In Ohio on the third anniversary of the January 6th, 2021 insurrection dozens of black and yellow clad Proud Boys rallied in front of the Capitol building in Columbus. They arrived with bear mace, heavy shields, some in military kit, helmets and a sort of long riding crop (If you know the name of this thing, please tell me).
Local anti-fascists arrived hours before the scheduled noon start of the Proud Boy rally. Some were armed with long guns, police were ready in the surrounding area.
After several hours of a standoff with both sides yelling at each other with bicycle cops in between the Proud Boys left - but not before taking a group photo.
The rally was purported to be a memorial for Ashli Babbitt, the J6 rioter who was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer while trying to break farther into the Senate building. There were rumors that Babbitt’s mother sent a message to the Proud Boys that they were going to play but they did not play it at the rally.
Babbitt’s family yesterday announced a $30 million dollar lawsuit against the Federal government alleging negligence and wrongful death.
