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It was only last Tuesday, which in the 2020 U.S. news world is about a millennia ago. On that day, President Donald Trump, during his debate with former Vice President Joe Biden, told a group called the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by.

The actual group, the Proud Boys, swiftly changed their logo to include Trumps quote, celebrating the moment on their online forums. [News organizations widely criticized the statement as a refusal to condemn white supremacy and violent militias from a President who has, intentionally or not, courted such groups in the past.]

Probably intentionally.

Even Merriam-Webster (yes, the dictionary) weighed in:

Because somebodys got to stand up for the truth.

The above clip from September 29ths chaotic debate has sparked outrage from op-ed columnists and celebration from the Proud Boys themselves.

The next day, Donald Trump claimed not to know who the Proud Boys are, but told them to stand down and let law enforcement do their work.

However, Trump has a previous connection to the proud boys: Roger Stone. Trump commuted Stones sentence for lying to Congress (see video below) on July 10th. Stone himself is an associate of the Proud Boys, particularly of Enrique Tarro, the groups current leader.

Tarrio also heads Floridas Latinos for Trump.

While Trump himself doesnt have a direct connection, there is a chain of connections. If he didnt know who the Proud Boys were before claiming so, well, that was impressively ignorant of him.

If you havent encountered or heard of the group in real life, and you arent the right (wrong?) kind of Extremely Online, you might have had no idea who the Proud Boys were before Tuesday. In the wake of Trumps comments, however, the group gained a lot of public attention.

So, who are the Proud Boys? According to the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, theyre a radicalization vector. That is, members of the group are likely to get involved with more extremist groups. Therefore, the group can maintain a sort of plausible deniability. In fact, the Proud Boys sued the Southern Poverty Law Center for labeling them as a hate group.

The group was founded in 2016 by Gavin McInnes, who (according to the International Centre) acknowledges himself as a xenophobe. He envisioned the group as a pro-western fraternity dedicated to celebrating western culture. Effectively just a drinking club.

However, they have established themselves as more of a fight club, showing up at political rallies and participating in fights (often escalating force) such as confrontations at the protests in Portland. In fact, one prominent member was arrested in Portland on September 30th.

In Summer 2017, amid controversy over the removal of Charlottesville, Virginias Confederate monuments, numerous far-right political groups organized a Unite the Right rally (heres a YouTube video reviewing the event).

That is: neo-Nazis, neo-Confederates, the Ku Klux Klan, et cetera. These protestors marched through the streets of Charlottesville with tiki torches. They shouted slogans such as blood and soil, white lives matter, Jews will not replace us, and you will not replace us. This rally turned violent (predictably) and one woman, Heather Heyer, was killed on August 12th.

McInnes and the Proud Boys were invited to the rally, but declined because, if we do go, it will look like were fighting for Nazis we dont like. This is consistent with the Proud Boys MO: they seek to distance themselves from more overt alt-right groups while maintaining indirect associations with them.

While McInnes and the mainstream Proud Boys group didnt appear at the rally in Charlottesville, their more violent offshoot (the Fraternal Order of Alt-Knights) was present.

So although the Proud Boys maintain some plausible deniability by disavowing and distancing themselves from devoted white-nationalist, anti-semitic, and neo-fascist views, the fact is that theyre closely associated with other groups that proudly hold these more overtly violent views. This has led to the Proud Boys being labeled as part of the alt-lite by hate-watch groups.

Since 2016 the alt-right movement has gained increased public attention as an influential movement in the U.S. The term was coined in 2008 by Richard Spencer, and is effectively a repackaging of white supremacist and ultra-nationalist ideologies.

The movement is a loose association of groups, not an organized whole, and is therefore difficult to reliably define. What unites them is their racist, nationalist ideology and their online activity, including memes.

The alt-lite is, just like the Centre for Counter-Terrorisms article described, more of a vector for radicalization into the alt-right. Alt lite groups, such as the Proud Boys, share a disdain for feminists and immigrants but shy away from more overt expressions of white supremacist ideas.

Alt-lite groups often keep their focus on civic nationalism rather than racial nationalism. The Proud Boys put their own focus on western values, avoiding any direct tie to the racial nationalism of, say, the KKK and neo-Nazis.

While individuals such as Jason Kessler, the Unite the Right rallys organizer, have a past association with the Proud Boys, the group tries to keep its public image free of that association. Kessler was apparently kicked out of the Proud Boys when he became too extreme for them.

However, this doesnt change the fact theyre more than happy to show up and exacerbate violent situations.

Summer 2020s series of protests in American cities, originally sparked by the extrajudicial police killing of George Floyd in May, has resulted in clashes between Proud Boys and right-wing groups in their orbit, and left-wing groups loosely called antifa (anti-fascist). This moniker has come to include the Black Lives Matter movement.

Although politicians have condemned violence on both sides of this conflict, its very important to note that police have been far more permissive with groups such as the Proud Boys than with antifa and protestors against police brutality. Consider the use of federal troops in American cities earlier this year. Consider Trumps insistence that U.S. political violence is primarily left-wing. (This is statistically untrue in recent history).

Consider the false equivalencies made by commentators, seeking to be evenhanded, between protests against police brutality (responded to with more police brutality, even in the absence of destructive tactics), and counter-protests (often protected by police groups).

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Who are the 'Proud Boys'? The neo-fascist group backed by Trump - Kulture Hub

Mere hours after the President of the United States turned an opportunity to denounce the rise of white supremacist thinking in America into a chance to tell a hate group to stand back and standby, a new look at an upcoming documentary aims to shed some light on the very people most thrilled by the possibility of a white supremacist government: the alt-right. In White Noise, directed and shot by Daniel Lombroso in his directorial debut, viewers will go inside a spreading movement, bolstered by social medias reach and a cadre of outspoken leaders who think nothing of spewing hate to anyone who will listen.

The film is also The Atlantics first feature documentary and is billed as the definitive inside story of the movement that has come to be known as the alt-right. Lombrosos film follows three of the movements biggest stars, including Mike Cernovich, a conspiracy theorist and sex blogger turned media entrepreneur; Lauren Southern, an anti-feminist, anti-immigration YouTube star; and Richard Spencer, a white-power ideologue.

Per the films official synopsis: This film takes the viewer into the terrifying heart of the movement explosive protests, riotous parties, and the rooms where populist and racist ideologies are refined, weaponized, and injected into the mainstream. Just as the alt-right comes to prominence, infighting tears the movement apart. Spencer and Cernovich clash over the role of white nationalism in conservative politics. Southern struggles to reconcile her leadership role with the sexism and misogyny of her peers. Lawsuits mount and internecine fights erupt, but even as the alt-right fractures, its once-marginalized ideas gain a foothold in mainstream discourse; in Republican politics; in the establishment right-wing press, especially Fox News and on the worlds biggest social-media platforms.

In anticipation of the films premiere at AFI Docs this summer, IndieWires Eric Kohn billed the film a troubling and timely look at a trio of far-right nationalists behind its harrowing resurgence around the country. Through online conspiracy theories, fake news, and hate-spewing YouTube followings, these loathsome provocateurs are responsible from some of the most profound issues facing American discourse today as well as its impact on who makes it into public office.

White Noise will be available on demand on Wednesday, October 21. Watch the films first trailer, exclusively on IndieWire, below.

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White Noise Trailer: Urgent Doc Tracks the Rise of Americas White Supremacist Alt-Right - IndieWire

The anti-immigrant, all-male organisation was referenced in the presidential debate, with Donald Trump telling them to stand back and stand by

Yesterday (September 29), in a presidential debate described by BBC News as the political equivalent of a food fight, Donald Trump proved, yet again, that not only is he unfit to run a country, hes also a total piece of shit.

Widely perceived as a hot mess and the worst presidential debate in living memory by both the public and global news corporations, the night was overrun with interruptions, false claims, rants, and personal insults largely from Trump. Joe Biden, his Democrat opponent, kept his cool, occasionally interrupting, and frequently laughing at the presidents incoherent heckling.

In one particularly frenzied moment, Biden was being interrupted so much by Trump, he had to urge, Will you shut up, man? Later referencing the presidents inability to STFU, he told moderator Chris Wallace who frequently lost control of the debate that its hard to get any word in with this clown.

The pair did find some time to address actual issues, including the coronavirus pandemic and institutional racism. However, when Trump was given the chance to renounce right-wing violence, he instead told one far-right group, called the Proud Boys, to stand back and stand by. He then pivoted to attack left-wing and anti-facist activists.

Here, following their direct address by the president of the United States, Dazed outlines who the Proud Boys are, what they stand against, and how theyve reacted to their reference on prime time TV. For a more detailed overview of what happened during last nights presidential debate, head to The Guardian or BBC News.

The all-male Proud Boys group has been described as an alt-right, fascist organisation, which was founded ahead of the US election in 2016 by VICE co-founder Gavin McInnes. It was reportedly started as a joke in the far-right Takis Magazine, with its name stemming from the song Proud of Your Boy from the Aladdin musical. McInnes who was pushed out of VICE in 2008 began distancing himself from the group in 2017, saying hes not a part of the alt-right because his focus isnt race, but Western values. OK.

As reported by news podcast The Takeaway in 2018, the groups recruitment process focuses on white men aged between 15 and 30. The Proud Boys say they have an initiation process which, obviously, includes hazing a process where those wanting to join are degraded and humiliated in order to prove their commitment to the group. According to The Daily Beast, one of the hazing rituals includes calling out the names of cereal brands while getting punched in the face.

Equality, basically. The group believes that white men and Western culture are under siege, and therefore engages in misogyny, homophobia, racism, and violence in order to protect the values held dear by the most marginalised people in history: them. The Proud Boys have described themselves as a Western chauvinist group, with McInnes once asserting that women and other marginalised groups have incentive to be a victim. The group is opposed to feminism McInnes has reportedly called it a cancer and is overtly racist, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, homophobic, and transphobic.

Though the group reportedly rejects white supremacy (it permits non-white male members) it has regularly participated in racist events, and the FBI has labelled it an extremist group with ties to white nationalism (although the agency later backtracked). The Southern Poverty Law Centre lists the Proud Boys as a hate group.

The group glorifies political violence against the left-wing, with McInnes once declaring: I want violence, I want punching in the face. Im disappointed in Trump supporters for not punching enough. In 2018, when the Proud Boys Twitter account was shut down McInnes was also removed the groups profile photo depicted a member punching a counter-protester.

The Proud Boys have an extensive history of street violence against left-wing activists and protesters. In recent months, the group has repeatedly turned up to oppose Black Lives Matter or Antifa demonstrations, with their presence often resulting in violence. Since 2017, the group has engaged in political fights in a number of states across the US, as well as in Canada. One notorious 2018 incident in Manhattan in which anti-fascist activists protesting a talk by McInnes were attacked by the Proud Boys resulted in the arrest of ten men, two of whom were sentenced to four years in prison.

Much to the dismay of Fred Perry, the Proud Boys have adopted the British labels black and yellow polo shirt as its uniform, even going as far as appropriating the brands signature wreath emblem to advertise a recent rally. Fred Perrys signature polos are associated with the skinhead movement, which originally stood against fascism, but became linked to the far-right politics of the British National Front in the 1970s. The brand has since been adopted by various right-wing movements around the world, many of which are dismally still going strong.

On Sunday (September 27), Fred Perry announced that it will stop importing the shirt to North America and Canada, due to the styles associations with the Proud Boys. Fred Perry does not support and is in no way affiliated with the Proud Boys, the label said in a statement, adding that the groups subversion of its clothing and logo is incredibly frustrating. The brand confirmed that its working with lawyers to pursue any unlawful use of our brand.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have all banned the Proud Boys from their platform, but as BBC News reports, the groups chairman, Enrique Tarrio, responded to Trumps shout out on discussion network Parler, writing: Standing by sir I will stand down sir!!! The group also added the phrase Stand Back, Stand By to their logo. Sigh.

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A brief history of the violent, alt-right group, the Proud Boys - Dazed

At the first 2020 presidential debate, Donald Trump was explicitly asked to denounce the white supremacists and rightwing militia groups that passionately support him. While an average person would expect this to be a straightforward answer, Trump, once again, failed to answer unambiguously. Instead he said: Proud Boys stand back and stand by. But Ill tell you what. Ill tell you what. Somebodys got to do something about antifa and the left because this is not a rightwing problem. Rather than harnessing an opportunity to ratchet down the rhetoric and talking points of white power groups, Trumps not-very-coded language has actually energized Proud Boys and similar alt-right groups.

The Proud Boys, for those unfamiliar, are a self-described western chauvinist mens club established in 2016 by Gavin McInnes. The group sometimes paints itself as a wacky fraternal organization; in practice, it is much closer to a street gang, and McInnes has publicly described the group as a gang. Their gatherings tend to involve large amounts of drinking and violence. Members partake in unusual rituals to gain status within the group. They have a uniform (Fred Perry shirts), gang colors (black and yellow) and a mascot/symbol (a cockerel). Traditionally, the Proud Boys would be considered nothing more than a modernized version of racist skinheads. They package themselves, however, in a hipster persona that uses humor and irony to spread far-right talking points opposing feminism, immigration, political correctness and establishment politics.

The blogger Ken White coined something called the goat rule: if you ironically kiss a goat, you are still a goat-kisser. (We are paraphrasing his original language, which was slightly stronger.) The Proud Boys like to give the impression that they simply enjoy using caustic or ironic humor to trigger liberals and social justice warriors. But theyre not ironic, transgressive humorists or provocateurs; theyre goat-kissers who are racist and sexist.

From the perspective of the criminal justice system, the elements that form the Proud Boys collective identity are the same as the criteria that law enforcement agencies often use to designate street gangs. As gang experts and the authors of Alt-Right Gangs: A Hazy Shade of White, we think its extremely clear that the Proud Boys membership criteria, aesthetics and penchant for violence identify the group as a street gang. Yet the Proud Boys and other white power groups are not considered a criminal street gang by many police agencies and are generally absent in gang databases. This is especially concerning given that a 2006 FBI report found that some American police officers sympathize or even actively collaborate with far-right militias or white power groups.

Trumps recent overture to the Proud Boys is also troubling because of a phenomenon called Big Gang Theory. The Proud Boys are numerically small but, like a lot of gangs and splinter ideological groups, benefit from the (exaggerated) perception that they are highly organized, control a lot of territory and have members in many municipalities. This is reminiscent of the Hammerskins, the largest racist skinhead gang in the United States, which at its peak has probably never had more than about 500 members despite there being about 5,000 racist skinheads in the US.

Like the Hammerskins, the Proud Boys give off the impression that they are bigger and more imposing than they actually are, as evidenced by the lack of attendees at their recent rally in Portland. Trumps call for Proud Boys to stand by further plays into this embellished facade.

Trump is pulling this far-right group more and more into the mainstream, providing the Proud Boys with the opportunity to gather support from a far bigger pool of potential recruits, which they will then slowly expose to their white supremacist rhetoric and affirmation of violence. Trumps remarks also increase the risk that other extremist groups that are not as well-known as the Proud Boys will escalate their violence in order to gain similar attention.

In our current period of political and social uncertainty, the Proud Boys, other white power gangs, and far-right militias will continue to draw more people into oppositional politics. Trumps callous and deliberately ambiguous language, which far-right groups interpret as praise and endorsement, will only nurture more extremism.

Shannon E Reid is an associate professor of criminal justice and criminology at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Matthew Valasik is an associate professor of sociology at Louisiana State University. They are the authors of Alt-Right Gangs: A Hazy Shade of White (University of California Press)

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The Proud Boys are a far-right gang. Trump boosted them on national TV - The Guardian

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Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

Dear Care and Feeding,

When I was in college, I became pregnant and put the baby up for adoption. I chose a couple who were educated, lived in a very nice area, and seemed like smart, kind, and good people. They emailed me photos and updates for about a year, until they divorced, and then we lost touch.

The child is 9 now. The mom recently found me on Facebook, and I was shocked to see that she has become a conservative alt-right conspiracy theorist gun nut, anti-vaccination, and anti-mask COVID denier. She posted about home-schooling (not virtual school) the child but also posted about working two jobs, which leads me to think the child is only learning xenophobia. As far as I can tell, the dad has nothing to do with either of them anymore. My question is: Is this a case of I signed away my parental rights and should let them be, or should I be concerned? And if so, what could I do? The child hasnt seen me since she was a baby and may not even know shes adopted.

Not the Mom

Dear NM,

You havent said why you are concerned, and I dont want to assume. Is it because its simply awful that a child, any child, is being raised this way? Or do you have feelings connected to your role as her birth mother? I think its important that you establish that for yourself, and if you find that youre having a hard time processing this emotionally, it may be worth it to speak to a professional who has experience with parents of children placed in adoptive care.

That said, you did sign away your parental rights, but you still have every right to be concernedI am too! I have no connection to this child, but I am concerned anytime I hear of a young person being trained in the ways of the worst among us. We all should feel a sense of responsibility for the children of the world, and it would not be unreasonable at all for you to feel particularly bothered by this set of circumstances.

What was the nature of the moms message to you? Did she want to stay in touch or merely say hello? There is a scenario in which she could introduce you into her daughters life, and perhaps over time, you could serve as a positive influence that is a counterpoint to her own behavior. In terms of taking more drastic action, if you are to become aware that this child is not actually being schooled at all, its possible that a call to local child protective services could be helpful, but please note the emphasis on the word possiblemany of those agencies are more capable of doing harm than good and I would not recommend this if you didnt think they could intervene positively.

Its likely that the best thing you can do for this girl is to pray (if youre the praying sort) and/or send positive energy, and to function in the world as a person who steadfastly opposes the values she is being taught in both word and deed. Also, it is important that you remember that you made a choice based on the information made available to you at the time and that you are not in any way, shape, or form responsible for what has happened here.

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Dear Care and Feeding,

I am five months into a pregnancy conceived with donor sperm and I intended to be a single mother. However, I met someone wonderful two months ago who, at least so far, is a great match for me and very interested in what life might be like when the baby comes, including discussions about co-habitation sometime after the birth. The pregnancy, along with quarantine, has made the relationship move somewhat faster than usual, and that means that were both very committed already.

My question concerns meeting his kids, who are 4 and 8. At this point, he hasnt mentioned me to them, but things are getting to the point where we both want that to happen. His kids have a baby sibling, and they love having the baby around; that also means that they are very much aware of what another new baby means for their lives. Im wondering if I should meet his kids before my (our?) baby comes, so I can get to know them without the preoccupations of new motherhood and so they can be prepared for another new baby in their lives, or if it would be better to wait and be introduced along with the baby. Were both concerned about making sure that Im not meeting the kids before were pretty certain about each other, so its not likely to happen immediately, regardless. But it also a pretty big change thats coming, and giving them adjustment time seems wise, too. The timing of everything is just very tight. What do you recommend?

Brisk Blending

Dear BB,

Do you know another word for two months?

Recently. You recently started dating someone three months into your first pregnancy, and have begun pondering whether this child will belong to the both of you in three or four months. This could be the start of a fairy tale, or a cautionary one. But Im pretty sure its gonna be either/or.

You absolutely must meet these children before deciding to move in with their father, and you must see your partner parent before you decide to do what exactly is it that you are planning to do? Are you talking about living together, or entering some sort of formal agreement to long-term partnership and the shared raising of this child? Would your man be Mommys boyfriend? Dad? Stepdad? Uncle Jesse?

Why are you doing this? That is a sincere question, not a spicy one. You were prepared for single motherhood before. How long did you take to come to that decision? Would you, under not-pregnant circumstances, move in with a boyfriend this early in the relationship? How about one who had kids? Are you simply confident that this is the person you want long term, or are you perhaps feeling some anxiety about being a solo mom to an infant?

What about your boyfriend? Is he typically inclined to move at this pace? Is he on good terms with his ex? Also, if the kids have a baby sibling, Im assuming his former partner just had the child? Is it possible that he may be feeling a little emotional, having a bit of baby fever, or missing that sweet stage in parenting before yelling mean words and arguing with one another?

Maybe this is just perfect timing and you guys will be one big happy family.

Either way, I imagine that you have put a lot of thought and effort into becoming pregnant and preparing for motherhood. You should put that same amount of thought and effort into defining what the circumstances around your child would ideally look like to you, which means being absolutely certain that youve gotten to truly know the person you partner with and how you introduce them. Good luck to you.

If you missed Tuesdays Care and Feeding column, read it here.

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Dear Care and Feeding,

I have struggled with an eating disorder and body dysmorphia since I was 12. They were especially triggered by fat in my stomach and thighs, and I would have literal nightmares about immense weight gain in those areas. Eventually, I went to therapy as a teenager, and that helped immensely. In order to help pay tuition in college, I modeled for several years, but ended up relapsing and quitting.

Im now married, and my husband and I both want children soon. The thing is, I still struggle with body dysmorphia and the thought of being pregnant terrifies me. Im almost certain I would relapse severely into my eating disorder. My husband is understanding and has said many times that he would love for us to adopt or use a surrogate, but I cant shake the feeling that Im being selfish. I also know that our families would ask about our reasons, and I dont know how to respond to those questions. Am I being selfish or vain? How can I respond to the barrage of questions I know well get? And how would I talk to my future child about this?

Image Issues

Dear II,

You are not being selfish nor vain, and neither of those words should ever be used to refer to making the decision to adopt. Further, its not unusual or rare for someone under your circumstances to choose to use a surrogate. You have a health issue and you may choose to approach motherhood using any of those methods for that reason. The most important thing is that you have a partner who understands and respects your needs, and you dont need to worry about convincing anyone else. All you need to tell anyone is that you made the best choice for your family. Sending you all the best and many good wishes for a happy, healthy journey to motherhood, no matter what you decide.

Dear Care and Feeding,

My family (me, partner, 4-year-old) are really lucky to be relocating closer to the extended family soon. My wonderful mom just retired from teaching first grade and is excited to be a full-time grandma and teacher until its safe to send our kid to preschool. Wed appreciate advice on how to help this go well: particularly, helping our kid separate Playtime Grandma and Teacher Grandma, having parent-teacher conversations with someone whos also my mom, and probably many other things we havent thought about yet.

The Teachers Kid

Dear TTK,

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It is wonderful that your mom is able to do this for your family! While shell never be able to entirely separate yourself from the beloved role of Grandmother, you all can create a division between how she interacts with your child inside and outside of the classroom.

There should be as many visual distinctions as possible. Hold class in a different space than where play usually takes place, even if its the same room. Teacher Grandma can wear a special hat, type of outfit, or an accessory that distinguishes her from Playtime Grandma. Be truly intentional about creating school habits, schedules, and routinesand sticking to them as a parent. Ensure that the two of them continue to get time together that isnt just about school. Good luck!

Jamilah

When I was young, my parents worked very hard to put their children through college. Now my husband works 70 hours a week as a physician, and I am a part-time nurse. We live in an affluent part of town so our kids can go to the best public schools. My 10-year-old daughter is very intelligent but lazy and unmotivated. She received several Fs on the last report card for not doing her assignments but is not embarrassed at all. When I ask her to do homework or read, she gets angry and stomps off. Her friends have phones and tablets, and my daughter has asked for these items, but I cannot reward laziness. Thus, she is angry. What should I do? Her attitude stinks. I am concerned about her indifference and the effect it will have on her future.

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My Childs Adoptive Mother Is an Alt-Right, Anti-Vaccine Conspiracy Theorist - Slate