Black Church In D.C. Owns Group’s Trademark

A choose has awarded a historic Black church in Washington management over the Proud Boys trademark. The replace comes after the far-right group defaulted on a $2.8 million judgment. The Monday ruling within the D.C. Superior Courtroom grants rights to the trademark of the group’s identify to the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church.

RELATED: Black Church In Washington, D.C., Sues Proud Boys For $22M

What Else To Know About Proud Boys’ Trademark Loss

Moreover, the ruling bans the Proud Boys members from promoting any merchandise with its identify or symbols with out the church’s consent. It additionally permits the church to attempt to snatch any cash the Proud Boys comprised of promoting the group’s merchandise.

For context, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal sued to recoup damages after members of the Proud Boys vandalized the church. This occurred after a pro-Donald Trump rally in December 2020. The members tore down and burned Black Lives Matter banners at two church buildings, together with Metropolitan African Methodist. There have been additionally violent clashes between opposing protesters, and arrests had been made that evening.

The church lawsuit known as the actions on Dec. 12, 2020, “acts of terror” and stated they had been meant to intimidate the members of the church. A default judgment was awarded to the church in June 2023. After the Proud Boys didn’t make its funds and to speak with the court docket or their reps, attorneys for the church filed a movement in December looking for rights to the trademark.

Far-Rights Group Chief Reacts To Ruling

Enrique Tarrio, then the chief of the Proud Boys, confessed to taking part within the burnings. A choose later sentenced him to greater than 5 months in jail on these and different prices. Later, he obtained a 22-year sentence in federal jail for orchestrating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.

Fortunate for Tarrio, President Donald Trump has been lenient, to say the least, with the Proud Boys and their acts on the notorious riot. On his first day in workplace, Trump granted pardons, commutations or vowed to dismiss circumstances in opposition to the 1,500-plus individuals charged with crimes within the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol— together with Tarrio.

Case information present the lawsuit was served to Tarrio on the federal jail the place he was housed when it was filed, in addition to to no less than one different tackle related to him and one other member. In a prolonged assertion posted to X, Tarrio reacted to the choose’s ruling on the group’s trademark.

“The presiding choose has denied due course of to myself and the opposite defendants, stopping us from presenting a correct protection.”

Tarrio additionally advised in separate posts that the Proud Boys rename themselves “African Methodist Episcopal Boys ” and requested for recommendations on a brand new identify.

An legal professional representing the church within the civil motion didn’t reply to a request for remark. Nayib Hassan, Tarrio’s legal professional, declined to remark.