Proud Boys echoed, retracted by DC cops
Claim about stabbing repeated in media
As protests over police brutality and racial justice broke out this summer, often resulting in harsh responses from law enforcement, police officers across the country have been accused of favoring a violent extremist group that took to the streets to oppose those demonstrators.
The latest example of a cozy relationship between law enforcement and the far-right Proud Boys happened in the nation’s capital last week when the Metropolitan Police responded to a stabbing involving members of the Proud Boys and an associate.
Bevelyn Beatty and the chairman of the Proud Boys, who was with her, told police they were both stabbed by people associated with Black Lives Matter in a street fight the morning after the presidential election. The Metropolitan Police Department repeated their claim to media, leading to headlines claiming Black Lives Matter had attacked the Proud Boys.
Police officials have since walked back their initial statements, saying it’s unclear whether anyone involved was affiliated with political groups.
“This group has been involved in all kinds of violent activities, and it seems that law enforcement’s response to them has been reluctant.” Michael German former FBI special agent
The department’s willingness to echo the accusations of the Proud Boys is an example of law enforcement’s deference to the group, said Michael German, a former FBI special agent and now a fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty and National Security Program.
“This group has been involved in all kinds of violent activities, and it seems that law enforcement’s response to them has been reluctant,” German said. “That sends a message to far-right groups that their violence is sanctioned by the police.”
Tarrio and other Proud Boys have sought to portray the group as friendly with law enforcement. “There’s no conspiracy here. We’re open to working with law enforcement, whereas the other side wants to kill police.”
German said the cozy relationship between the Proud Boys and the police spells trouble for future clashes.
“There’s still a perception among law enforcement that this is a friendly group,” he said. “That just means even more violent people will be attracted to engage in these protests, and that will end badly.”