Proud Boys Leader attacked the first full sit -in with USA Today with President Trump’s apology
USA Today is sitting with Today with the Facto Proud Boys Leader Enrique Tero.
Recently apologetic Proud Boys leader Enrique Tero gave an exclusive interview to USA Today.
Miami – In a special sit -in interview at her home in Miami, Henry “Enrique” Tero, former – and possibly current -Proud Boys leader told USA Today that he intends to continue to impress the group And said it will continue. The role in moving forward in politics
Tero, who was less than two years in a 22 -year federal prison sentence for his role in the US Capital riots on January 6 when President Donald Trump pardoned him on Monday, returned to Miami on Wednesday. Come home and sit. With USA Today on Friday morning.
The former “chairman” of Proud Boys, in his first interview with a major news organization after his release, took a more cautious and lowly proud tone than in the past. He acknowledged that some rioters attacked the police on January 6 and they deserved legal action, saying that Proud Boys had been misused as a hate group, and on a podcast earlier this week on The statements made when he demanded “revenge” against these people. He and other rioters on January 6 put behind bars.
“When I say ‘feel the heat’, I want to make it clear that I want to investigate,” Tero said.
Asked about what he and the Proud Boys would do to bring “revenge” against those who prosecuted them, if nothing was revealed by these investigations, Tero said he would not be more about the matter. Will press
“In the case that nothing was found, I’ll go to the next thing,” he said.
Tero, who said he had not spoken to President Donald Trump before or since his release, was not in the US Capital on January 6, 2021. Nevertheless, the prosecution called it the mastermind of the attack. In the interview, Tero maintained his long -standing claim that the uprising was not already organized or planned.
Prosecution Presented the evidence Saying that Tero created a special wing of the Proud Boys, called the “Ministry of Self Defense”, which integrated the attacks on that day and later celebrated them. “Don’t make a mistake … we did it,” Tero wrote to the group at one point.
On Friday, he declared himself a victim of a corrupt system that tried to end freedom of expression and suppress opponents of the political class.
‘We don’t like white supremacy’
Tero said it was a mistake to label him as a “ex -chairman” of Pray Boys. He said the organization no longer talks about its leadership, but claimed that they had the support of the majority of the Pride Boys.
“I think right now, maybe I get 60% of my boys,” he said.
Proud boys support free speech and political ideology of nationalism, which is expressed through aggressive language, controversial memes and photos. Investigation of the group’s Wisconsin Bob’s 2021 USA Today revealed racism and hostility, where moving inside the group depended on potential members of bullying and promoting white supremacy.
Tero said that the individual chapters of the Proud Boys are largely independent and emphasized that they are not in full control of the national leadership. He acknowledged that white supremacy and other right -wing extremist extremist Pood Boys have moved towards the brand, but said the group was misused by the media.
“We don’t like white supremacy, we are not Nazi, we are not anti -Semitic,” Tero said. “There is no group that I do not insult or make fun of.”
In the four years since the Capital Riot, Proud Boys has been seen on the streets of the United States, for which dozens of members of the group were tried, jailed and now released. Black and Golden Pride Boys’ colorful men’s spit groups have appeared everywhere from the drag show of all ages to local school board meetings.
‘I am guilty of equal opportunities’
But Tero, who describes his heritage as “African Cuba”, insisted that there is no need to fear the boys who are proud of the LGBTQ+ community and minorities.
“I think they might be involved in their local chapter,” he said about the members of these groups. “I don’t think this fear is based on fact. We have never targeted specific groups because of their color, sexual trends or anything.”
“I am guilty of equal opportunities,” he said.
Tero said that Proud Boys has targeted elements of American culture that he disagrees – such as drag shows for all ages, or public officials who openly supported President Biden – but said if the group The members of the specific races or groups will be rejected if they express hatred against specific races or groups. .
Tero said that Proud Boys has always supported and will continue to support Trump, especially considering the apology that has released his top leadership. But he said he did not predict the role of Peruce Boys or to be involved in implementing Trump’s policies.
Tero said the Pray Boys would not go out to report to the authorities illegally to find migrants in the country.
“You will see them very proud of these things,” he said. “I have seen some other groups saying that ‘we are going to help them physically deport them’, but this is not a fact. This is not realistic.”
As far as his own future is concerned, Tero joked half that he could become the next local sheriff of Miami.
He said, “I’m just turning here, but I run for Sheriff, and I won, and this is Sheriff Enrique Tero, well – strangers happened,” he said.
Will Carlis covers extremism and emerging problems for USA Today.
