The Proud Boys are a far-right, male-only, and extremist organization that has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The group is known for its violent rhetoric, its members' participation in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, and its founder's association with white nationalism.
The Proud Boys were founded in 2016 by Gavin McInnes, a Canadian-born media personality and co-founder of the right-wing activist group Vice Media. The group's name is a reference to the song "Proud of Your Boy" from the Disney film Aladdin.
In the following sections, we will explore the Proud Boys' beliefs, their involvement in political violence, and the legal challenges they have faced.