Function Over Appearance: Examining the Role of the Proud Boys in American Politics Before and After January 6th

By Samantha Kutner, Bjørn Ihler and C. L. Murray

The Proud Boys are a neo-fascist violent extremist organization with semi-autonomous chapters in America, Canada, Oceania and Europe. Their current organizational structure is built on a strategy common among extremist groups in the United States called “leaderless resistance”; it advocates for small groups to act autonomously while also being “united by a common mission”. In their own words, they claim that each group is autonomous, but all follow a common set of “core tenants”. In addition to their stated ideology, they have co-opted several high-profile issues over the course of their existence: Pro-Trump, anti-Antifa, anti-abortion, anti-indigenous, anti-mask, anti-“grooming”, etc.

For many individuals, the Proud Boys have served as a “gateway” to more violent extremist ideological movements and are often viewed as “a ‘stepping stone’ group to more extremist alt-right [groups].”

In order to better understand the group, and it’s impact in the US we have provided the following visualizations. The visualizations are also key to our report for the January 6th Select Committee on the group, and it’s role in American politics before, during and after the attack on the US Capitol on January 6th 2021.

Khalifa Ihler Institute. 2022. 43p.