Members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing demonstrators
Credit: Noah Berger
Who are the Proud Boys?
Founded in 2016 by Gavin McInnes, a Canadian-British right-wing activist, the Proud Boys is an all-male group who are staunchly far-right and anti-immigrant.
They are widely viewed as an alt-right hate group, a label they vehemently deny. Members often wear black and yellow Fred Perry polo shirts and "Make America Great Again" hats.
In order to join, a member must declare that he is "a Western chauvinist who refuses to apologise for creating the modern world".
Members have a history of street violence against their left-wing opponents, often leading to violence and arrests.
The Proud Boys and other affiliated groups have faced off against antifa on a number of occasions over the last two years, including violent street rallies in Oregon, New York and Washington.
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter have each blocked the group from posting content on their platforms.
Fred Perry shelves polo shirt adopted by Proud Boys
British clothes designer Fred Perry announced on Monday that it had stopped selling the black and yellow polo shirt adopted by the Proud Boys in the US.
"Despite its lineage, we have seen that the Black/Yellow/Yellow twin tipped shirt is taking on a new and very different meaning in North America as a result of its association with the Proud Boys. That association is something we must do our best to end," the brand said in its statement.
Fred Perry said that sales of the shirt will not resume in the US or Canada until they are "satisfied that its association with the Proud Boys has ended".
"No, we don’t support the ideals or the (Proud Boys). It is counter to our beliefs and the people we work with," John Flynn, the chairman of Fred Perry, said in 2017.
The Proud Boys have adopted Fred Perry's black and yellow polo shirts
Credit: Anadolu
Standing down and standing by
Despite their social media ban, many who identify with the Proud Boys took online to celebrate following the debate, pledging allegiance to President Trump and saying that they were "standing down and standing by".
One social media account known for the group made "Stand back. Stand by" part of its new logo.
At least one Proud Boy organiser, Joe Biggs, celebrated the group’s mention on the social media platform Parler, saying: "President Trump told the proud boys to stand by because someone needs to deal with ANTIFA…well sir! we’re ready!!" according to screenshots posted by a New York Times reporter on Twitter.
‘Astonishing refusal’
Mr Trump’s refusal to condemn the far-right group has drawn widespread criticism.
Mr Biden’s running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, said on MSNBC following the debate, "What we saw was a dog whistle through a bull horn."
Mr Biden’s campaign has seized on the row, sharing an image of an online discussion between Proud Boys members (the below image contains language some might find offensive):
This. This is Donald Trump's America. https://t.co/wld2mmGTwe
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 30, 2020
Mr Trump’s response also drew criticism from some social justice leaders.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, on Twitter called Trump’s response "astonishing."
"Trying to determine if this was an answer or an admission. @POTUS owes America an apology or an explanation. Now," Greenblatt wrote, tagging Trump’s official presidential Twitter handle.
Sister Simone Campbell, the executive director of the NETWORK Catholic Lobby for Social Justice, said in a statement, "I am appalled at President Trump’s refusal to condemn white nationalists,"
Mr Biden has often said he decided to run for president after white supremacists attacked counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, and Mr Trump said there were "fine people on both sides."
While Mr Trump has sought to distance himself from that comment, he has also been accused of downplaying the threat of white supremacists, even as his own administration has warned of the danger.
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