Proud Boys Image by Getty Images

By David Ian Klein January 5, 2021

Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, a group of self proclaimed “western chauvinists” who often border on white supremacy and antisemitism, was taken into custody by Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department Monday.

Tarrio leads the group that President Donald Trump told to stand back and stand by during a debate with President-Elect Biden in September.

According to The Washington Post, Tarrio was arrested on a warrant for burning a Black Lives Matter banner that belonged to a local church during a Dec. 12 rally. During his arrest, he also received additional charges after being found with illegal firearms accessories.

A resident of Miami, Tarrio was arrested upon his arrival in the district for a rally planned for Wednesday.

Police told The Post that prosecutors may also file hate-crime charges against Tarrio for the burning.

Tarrio had previously told The Post that he would pay for the banner and submit to authorities if charged, but would not admit to committing a hate crime.

The Proud Boys, who were founded in 2016, have a chapter in Israel. Recently, some members of the international movement tried to establish a break-off faction, and rebrand with more explicit antisemitism.

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