Talk:Proud Boys

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Proud Boys article.
This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject.

Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic.
New to Wikipedia? Welcome! Learn to edit; get help.

Article policies

Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL

Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7: 3 months

view · edit

Frequently asked questions

Q1: I'd like to suggest a change. Where should I start?

A1: Great! The first thing you should do is check that no one else has already brought up your suggestion. You can check this by going through the current discussions below, or by searching the talk archives.

Q2: Why does the article describe the Proud Boys as "far-right", "neo-fascist" or as having connections to white supremacists?

A2: Wikipedia is built off reliable sources, and the significant and clear majority of sources use such descriptions. You can see a few selected sources for these determinations in the article's content, though many other sources have also been included in previous talk discussions: far-right discussion, neo-fascist discussion, white supremacy discussion. Discussion amongst editors around this happened in 2020, resulting in an editorial consensus to keep this three terms per all available evidence.

Q3: I have a connection to the Proud Boys, but there's something wrong.

A3: Neutrality is important to Wikipedia, so editors with conflicts of interests are generally discouraged from editing directly, and instead should request edits to be made to ensure their independence. This can be done by creating a new talk section, describing your request (including what needs changing and sources), and adding {{Request edit}} to the top of the section. If there is something wrong like spelling or grammar, feel free to change it yourself, but any meaningful changes are best to be discussed first.

Q4: What sort of policies should I be aware of before I start editing?

A4: If you're wanting to jump in and start editing, it's best that you're familiar with Wikipedia's neutrality, verifiability (referencing), and biography policies. We're all here to help build a better encyclopedia, so if you would like some help making sure your change is okay or would like a second pair of eyes to skim over it before you save it, just post a new message on the talk page!

This article is written in American English, which has its own spelling conventions (color, defense, traveled) and some terms that are used in it may be different or absent from other varieties of English. According to the relevant style guide, this should not be changed without broad consensus.

Conservatism Low‑importance

	Conservatism portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Conservatism, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of conservatism on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.ConservatismWikipedia:WikiProject ConservatismTemplate:WikiProject ConservatismConservatism
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

Men's Issues Low‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Men's Issues, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Men's Issues articles on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Men's IssuesWikipedia:WikiProject Men's IssuesTemplate:WikiProject Men's IssuesMen's Issues
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

Discrimination High‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Discrimination, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Discrimination on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.DiscriminationWikipedia:WikiProject DiscriminationTemplate:WikiProject DiscriminationDiscrimination
High	This article has been rated as High-importance on the importance scale.

Organizations Low‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Organizations, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Organizations on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.OrganizationsWikipedia:WikiProject OrganizationsTemplate:WikiProject Organizationsorganization
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

Politics: American Low‑importance

	Politics portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Politics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of politics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PoliticsWikipedia:WikiProject PoliticsTemplate:WikiProject Politicspolitics
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.
	This article is supported by American politics task force (assessed as Low-importance).

United States Low‑importance

	United States portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject United States, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of topics relating to the United States of America on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the ongoing discussions. Template Usage Articles Requested! Become a Member Project Talk Alerts United StatesWikipedia:WikiProject United StatesTemplate:WikiProject United StatesUnited States
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

Crime and Criminal Biography: Terrorism Mid‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Crime and Criminal Biography, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Crime and Criminal Biography articles on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Crime and Criminal BiographyWikipedia:WikiProject Crime and Criminal BiographyTemplate:WikiProject Crime and Criminal BiographyCrime-related
Mid	This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale.
	This article is supported by the Terrorism task force (assessed as Mid-importance).

The contentious topics procedure applies to this page. This page is related to post-1992 politics of the United States and closely related people, which has been designated as a contentious topic.

Editors who repeatedly or seriously fail to adhere to the purpose of Wikipedia, any expected standards of behaviour, or any normal editorial process may be blocked or restricted by an administrator. Editors are advised to familiarise themselves with the contentious topics procedures before editing this page.

Before requesting any edits to this protected article, please familiarise yourself with reliable sourcing requirements.

Before posting an edit request on this talk page, please read the reliable sourcing and original research policies. These policies require that information in Wikipedia articles be supported by citations from reliable independent sources, and disallow your personal views, observations, interpretations, analyses, or anecdotes from being used.

Only content verified by subject experts and other reliable sources may be included, and uncited material may be removed without notice. If your complaint is about an assertion made in the article, check first to see if your proposed change is supported by reliable sources. If it is not, it is highly unlikely that your request will be granted. Checking the archives for previous discussions may provide more information. Requests which do not provide citations from reliable sources, or rely on unreliable sources, may be subject to closure without any other response.

The Proud Boys have a history of self-published claims that often contradict independent reliable sources. As per the fringe perspectives policy and self-description guidelines, these statements should be mentioned, but attributed in-text to the group and be within the context of coverage from reliable sources. Be careful not to give undue weight to the Proud Boys' statements, especially when they conflict with reliable sources.

Skip to table of contents

This article has been viewed enough times in a single week to appear in the Top 25 Report 2 times. The weeks in which this happened:

The following references may be useful when improving this article in the future:

Park, Meadhbh (2022). "Fight Club: Gavin McInnes, the Proud Boys, and Male Supremacism". In Carian, Emily K.; DiBranco, Alex; Ebin, Chelsea (eds.). Male Supremacism in the United States: From Patriarchal Traditionalism to Misogynist Incels and the Alt-Right. Abingdon, England: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003164722. ISBN 978-1-0005-7622-1.

Section sizes

Section size for Proud Boys (47 sections)
Section name	Byte count	Section total
(Top)	28,188	28,188
History and organization	24,253	61,692
Membership and doctrine	8,222	8,994
Gender and sexuality	772	772
Leadership	9,539	9,539
Connection with Roger Stone	8,438	8,438
2020 presidential debate	7,393	7,393
Foreign disinformation during the 2020 presidential campaign	3,075	3,075
Activities and events	104	56,733
2017–2018	16,418	16,418
2018 Metropolitan Republican Club Incident	1,981	13,382
Protestors	1,848	1,848
Incident	5,726	5,726
Aftermath	3,827	3,827
2019 Demand Free Speech rally	3,599	3,599
End Domestic Terrorism rally 2019	4,840	4,840
2020 COVID-19 misinformation	3,883	3,883
Anti-BLM protests	7,061	7,061
2020 church attacks	7,446	7,446
Participation in the January 6 United States Capitol attack	28,108	62,965
Indictments for conspiracy	27,194	27,194
Convictions for seditious conspiracy	7,663	7,663
Post-2021 actions	24	9,528
Alabama	2,870	2,870
Portland, Oregon march	2,178	2,178
Florida	1,392	1,392
California	1,676	1,676
Split with neo-Nazis	779	779
Trump conviction	609	609
Response	15	19,726
Government	19	12,676
United States	1,980	1,980
Canada	9,625	9,625
New Zealand	1,052	1,052
Southern Poverty Law Center lawsuit	4,496	4,496
Lawsuits	2,379	2,379
Social media bans	160	160
Subgroups	16	1,444
Fraternal Order of the Alt-Knights	400	400
Canadian chapters	1,028	1,028
Symbolism	1,422	11,363
Association with Fred Perry clothing	5,127	5,127
MAGA hats	2,023	2,023
6MWE	2,791	2,791
See also	218	218
References	30	30
External links	1,890	1,890
Total	253,777	253,777

Semi-protected edit request on 2 September 2024

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

The Proud Boys was founded as a fraternity that supports the American Republic. Proud Boys support the American Capitalist ideology. Proud Boys have been deemed as Fascist, this is incorrect. Noble hobbs (talk) 18:22, 2 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. EvergreenFir (talk) 18:29, 2 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

How does one provide a source contrary to an intangible and subjective viewpoint? 71.200.185.203 (talk) 18:09, 9 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If you'd read that link to our reliable sources policy, that would clear it up. — The Hand That Feeds You:^Bite 18:18, 9 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Symbolism

The Proud Boys often use a Rooster, sometimes painted red, white, and blue, as a semiotic. Can we add [https://www.yahoo.com/news/does-proud-boys-rooster-symbol-154604566.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGrH2J3orOcm7NhafVdNa5idawxVqD-w7V6Qtw-pukMtThy_B9Wy88ZLSjo4QM9BdIjE0c4yHJFQf3qF6yPrkInB6Sj8pupF_DQpfgeWoI_3Cgc7D0kQuEDjVrzypzqiE-T5Z3uNLZHt1nrNlCNvXbcXJ30f0DkeGuyIAF7OZhTE this citation? Bearian (talk) 18:54, 3 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It's actually already cited in the article, using the original Independent link rather than Yahoo's wrapper around it. See cite 15. — The Hand That Feeds You:^Bite 18:13, 9 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Unsure best way to integrate information

Hi all, I am reading a review article: Alt-right gangs and far-right extremists: From the margins to the mainstream which notes in the abstract "The misconception that alt-right gangs [(e.g., Proud Boys)] are domestic terrorist organizations, primarily driven by racist ideology, ignores just how unrefined and rudimentary the beliefs that connect members together actually are." I'm unsure where in the article this would fit. Rollinginhisgrave (talk) 02:21, 22 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Addition of a website URL

I believe we should add the Proud Boys' site's URL to the "Quick Facts" section. 207.253.171.59 (talk) 18:09, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Do you mean the template on the right? I don't think it makes sense; they're not primarily known for it and it wouldn't provide much useful information as a result. In fact, the only mention of the website of the article is an offhand quote saying that it hasn't been updated in over a year and a half. --Aquillion (talk) 20:50, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Semi-protected edit request on 18 December 2024

WP:NOTHERE request. — The Hand That Feeds You:^Bite 22:07, 18 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

Change everything on this page to an accurate and factual description of the Proud Boys.

Here is the appropriate description of this group:

"We are not a political group.

We are a fraternal brotherhood like the Elk’s Lodge or the Shriners. We are multi-racial group with conservative and libertarian inclinations. We welcome men of all races, straight or gay, into our membership. The only non-negotiable rule is that you are a Western Chauvinist who refuses to apologize for creating the modern world. The majority of our members are politically right-wing, but this is not a requirement. We disavow communists, Nazis, racists and other violent extremists. We will allow weak, beta-male virgins to join as long they attempt to elevate their status. Our fraternity is about helping men improve their lives. That goes for all men. However, if a prospective Proud Boy refuses to step up to the plate; if he doesn’t heed our advice and try to improve his lot; if he doesn’t assimilate and engage with the group, he will be asked to leave.

Many Proud Boys engage in acts of service to their community. This is not a requirement, but highly encouraged. We have assisted churches, veterans organizations, business owners and many others. Men who seek to reinstate a spirit of western chauvinism know that it requires action. That action can take many forms. Some men are active, visibly in the community, others are setting the example with everything they do. Their family, business, and social lives as well as bonding within this brotherhood are their action. Proud Boys love, live and exemplify the phrase “The West is The Best”!" 2600:1011:B1CD:E4E3:91C9:DDF1:3390:7BFB (talk) 20:42, 18 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. EvergreenFir (talk) 20:43, 18 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Here is the link for reference purposes. https://azproudboys.com/politics-social/ 2600:1011:B1CD:E4E3:91C9:DDF1:3390:7BFB (talk) 20:47, 18 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

That's not a reliable source (see WP:ABOUTSELF and WP:MANDY) EvergreenFir (talk) 20:50, 18 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I guess we'll just name you as the main person in the upcoming defamation lawsuit. The current content on this page is defamatory and absolutely incorrect. We'll be in touch soon. 2600:1011:B1CD:E4E3:91C9:DDF1:3390:7BFB (talk) 20:55, 18 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

NLT blocked. Doug Weller talk 21:12, 18 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]