The leader of Proud Boys, a right-wing organization that lunged into the spotlight at the Presidential Debate Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, is also the director of the grassroots organization Latinos for Trump.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump told the group “stand back and stand by” after he was asked to denounce them for their alleged white supremacist views at his first debate with Joseph R. Biden Jr. After his remark, many members posted on social media the group logos emblazed with the phrase ” stand back but stand by.” Trump’s son and spokesman both tried to minimize his comment calling it a “misspeak.” Trump tried to cover it up by telling reporters that he never heard of the group.
Enrique Tarrio is a 36-year-old Cuban American From Miami. He was promoted from president of his city’s Proud Boys chapter in 2018 to the group’s national chairman. He is also a State Director of Latinos for Trump and ran for Congress as a Republican. The chairman is close to the Republican party. He has pictures with the president’s son Don Jr.
Trump’s spokesman said neither Tarrio nor his Latinos for Trump group are affiliated with the president’s reelection campaign group the Latinos for Trump Coalition.
Tarrio was caught on film at the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was dressed in body armor with a fraternal order of Alt-Knights badge.
“We are not a white-power group, and I am not a victim. I think I should be able to say what I want and to express my support of Trump without being called a Nazi,” said Tarrio.
Written by Jessica Letcher
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
CNN: Leader of Proud Boys also leads grassroots group Latinos for Trump
The Daily Mail: EXCLUSIVE: Leader of ‘white supremacist’ Proud Boys is state director of an unofficial support group called Latinos for Trump and has ties to Republicans including the president’s son Don Jr., Senator Ted Cruz, and Roger Stone, who is a member; Josh Boswell
The New York Times: G.O.P. Alarmed by Trump’s Comments on Extremist Group, Fearing a Drag on the Party
Featured Image Courtesy of Mobilus In Mobili’s Flickr Page- Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Adam Cohn’s Page – Creative Commons License
