What is ? Who are the ? atriot Prayer is a far-right political collection of ultra-nationalist and neo-Nazi nization by physically attacking anti-fascists organization: in this case an associa- ideologies), including the high-profile bat- and minorities at rallies and other events P tion of newly active Christian bigots, tles of Berkeley which transpired through- (such as the recent sexist and anti-choice at- low-key white nationalists, professional agi- out 2017. tacks organized by PP/PB on people seek- tators, and opportunistic brawlers based in In April of that year, an anti-Muslim ing clinic services in Olympia, capitol of the area of Portland, Oregon, founded in bigot and frequenter of these events named state) and by refraining from late 2016 to defend the honor of the ascen- Jeremy Christian murdered Ricky John masturbation, an attempt to supercharge dant Trump presidency from the massive Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche with virile energy their attempts to “meet waves of social upheaval accompanying and seriously wounded Micah David-Cole women.” The Proud Boys have recently his election. Repeatedly since then, Patri- Fletcher on a Portland MAX train after been alleged to have taken part in a vicious ot Prayer and their affiliates have rallied in they had attempted to deescalate Chris- and calculated gang-rape in Portland. support of an array of vacuous and Amer- tian’s harassment of 2 young Muslim girls. The Proud Boys’ barely-hidden propen- ican-sounding principles like “freedom,” Similarly, August 2017’s “Unite the Right” sities for virulent , extreme patriar- “love,” and “truth,” while making common rally in Charlottesville, VA saw an anti-rac- chal violence, and close association with cause with an array of open white suprem- ist activist named Heather Heyer murdered blatant neo-Nazis are all underscored by the acists as well some non-white US ultra-na- (and several more seriously injured) when a existence of their paramilitary wing, “The tionalists and fascists along the way. fascist drove a car into the assembled count- Fraternal Order of Alt-Knights,” (FOAK), They have brutally attacked vulnera- er-demonstrators. In the wake of these and for whom the white nationalist Augustus ble individuals and populations, and have other attacks, Gibson has weakly attempt- Sol Invictus once served as second-in-com- clashed with anti-fascists of various stripes ed to distance himself from outright racists mand. Furthermore, , the —always under the auspices of supporting and fascists (Patriot Prayer loves parading white nationalist who organized the first the billionaire president, closing the na- its token couple of non-white members), “Unite the Right” rally in 2017 at which tional borders, and championing figments and denied that his movement is part of Heather Heyer was murdered, is a former of the democratic imagination like “free the Alt-Right. Proud Boy. He was expelled after Heath- speech.” But nothing could be further from the er’s murder in order for Proud Boys to save Their leader Joey Gibson attempts to truth. Gibson’s obligatory gestures of dis- face. James Allsup, a white nationalist who navigate a vague middle ground of re- avowal of these murders – motivated in attended Unite the Right in Charlottesville, action that maneuvers temporarily away large part by his own light-vs-dark rheto- also rallied with Proud Boys and Patriot from anything extreme enough to prevent ric and budding militancy – ring hollow. Prayer in Seattle. his goal of forging a broad-based far-right Before and after each new attack, nothing Most recently, on August 4th, Patriot populist movement. Gibson has aspira- changes with this group. Several supporters Prayer and the Proud Boys held a rally in tions toward seizing State power, having of Patriot Prayer can be seen and heard to Portland, OR and hid for several hours announced his run for U.S. Senate from gloat over these and similar outrages, and behind a massive formation of riot police. Washington early in 2018. Two years after go on making brazen threats or actually at- They waited it out until the latter dispelled its formation, it is becoming clear that not tacking their opponents in the streets. the massive anti-fascist counter-demonstra- only is Patriot Prayer not going away, but The Proud Boys are an aspiring street tion with extreme force to then prowl the it is using its apparently protean political gang who basically serve as the shock streets and attack random people of color commitments to give impetus to what is troops of Patriot Prayer, with whom their and bystanders. In the clash with the cops, becoming potentially the most significant membership overlaps. According to found- one anti-fascist sustained a severe wound up-welling of fascistic street mobilization er Gavin McInnes (also co-founder of Vice when Portland PD intentionally blasted in years. Media), the Proud Boys are a “pro-Western them in the back of the head with a con- Patriot Prayer uses dog-whistle pol- fraternal organization” of men who “re- cussion grenade at close-range. Likely, only itics—thinly-veiled or coded language fuse to apologize for creating the modern the helmet worn by the demonstrator saved meant to motivate the base of true believers world.” That is, they refuse to condemn their life. who understand its references—to mobilize patriarchy, genocide, colonization, and Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys may at- white rage against minorities. They have slavery. These apologists for the world of tempt to distance themselves from overt organized or have been present at a great prisons, parking lots, and date-rape drugs white nationalists and the Alt-Right, but many of the rallies and demonstrations of have chapters across the United States and the writing is on the wall. So far, it remains the past couple years associated with the Canada, with several members in the Pa- to be seen if the deaths and the injuries of term “Alt-Right” (itself an obscurantist eu- cific Northwest. Their members explicitly the victims of these groups and their close phemism which refers to the adherents of a gain status and advance through the orga- allies have been in vain... pugetsoundanarchists.org itsgoingdown.org crimethinc.com