Journalist AndyBCampbell, author of 'We Are Proud Boys,' credits the 'violent misogyny' of the early 2000s media landscape with allowing the extremist group to thrive.
With group leaders like Enrique Tarrio indicted in federal court for conspiracy related to the Capitol breach, as well as Mcinnes sparking his own arrest rumors after disappearing from a live stream at his home a few weeks ago, many view the future of the Proud Boys as up in the air. But not Campbell, who says the media has paid the price for underestimating the Proud Boys before.
Gavin McInnes created these guys in his own image and his own image is a false one, which is that he is this strong, testosterone-fueled everyman who rejects feminism and the so-called feminization of men. You’ve got the Fred Perry polos that were brought over from the UK and the football hooliganism over there where it’s sort of this brushed-up look of extremism. That image that he originally created was super strict.
But do you think that Vice gave him a front, or allowed to grow him his influence more than he otherwise would have? On the other side, I am quite surprised that that guy hasn’t been arrested yet. The data that that guy has on his phone would be totally useful to the Justice Department in its investigation of January 6th. I have absolutely no doubt that he was in contact with Proud Boys around that time. Certainly when I spoke to Roger Stone, he says that he’s in ongoing conversations with Gavin McInnes.
There’s some direct quotes. I wouldn’t say that’s gone completely, but these guys are liars as a rule. One of the quotes that I got from Tarrio that’s not in the book is that after January 6th, they decided, “Hey, we’re going to lay a bit lower. We’re going to stop talking to the media.” Tarrio told me if media keeps asking who’s the new leader, who’s leading the organization, [he’s] just gonna lie.
Enrique took what Gavin McInnes built and iterated on it by saying, “We need to get into local politics. We need to try to take small seats, whether they’re school board seats, or congressional seats, and we need to give our support to candidates who agree with our rhetoric and our violent positions.” Enrique’s success is is that he created a model for the Proud Boys where they don’t need national leadership.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
David LaChapelle on His Fotografiska Retrospective, AIDS, and Andy WarholFrom his portrait of Tupac Shakur taking a bubble bath to Lil’ Kim covered in Louis Vuitton logos, there's no mistaking David LaChapelle’s work. Here, the legendary photographer reflects on his career-defining retrospective on view at FotografiskaNY.
Read more »
Andy Cohen Coming-of-Age Comedy in the Works at NBC'Most Talkative' is based on Cohen's memoir of the same name.
Read more »
Anne Hathaway Brought Back Andy Sachs's Iconic Bangs in a NYFW-Worthy OutfitDoes the devil wear Michael Kors?
Read more »
WatchBox China names Andy Zhang new CEOPre-owned timepiece seller WatchBox has appointed a new CEO of WatchBox China.
Read more »
'Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Andy Samberg and Melissa Fumero Reunite for 'Digman''Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Andy Samberg and Melissa Fumero will reunite for new animated series 'Digman.'
Read more »