On February 11, 2025 the Proud Boys wordmark filing by the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, DC for a variety of goods and services including “posted, simply for the class covering “furniture”.”downloadable and printable publications, jewelry, bags, clothing, association services and other educational and entertainment services”.
Proud Boys merchandise is already being sold by the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In December 2020, the racist Proud Boys hate group desecrated and vandalized Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church (and by extension, everyone who stands against hate) when they “leaped over Metropolitan AME Church’s fence, entered the church’s property, and went directly to the Black Lives Matter sign. They then broke the zip ties that held the sign in place, tore down the sign, threw it to the ground, and stomped on it while loudly celebrating. Many others then jumped over the fence onto the church’s property and joined in the celebration of the sign’s destruction.”
Metropolitan AME Church did not back down. The church draws strength from the legacies of Elizabeth Freeman and Ida B. Wells-Barnett, against the Proud Boys, a white supremacist group, and vowed to fight because following Jesus in these times and circumstances demands nothing less. As a result of these efforts, Metropolitan was able to secure $2.8 million in damages based on the hateful conduct of the Proud Boys burning our Black Lives Matter banner.
However, this resounding victory was incomplete as just a judgment on paper with no actual exchange of monies to compensate Metropolitan. As a result, Metropolitan went to court to enforce the judgment and Judge Tanya M. Jones Bosier ruled in the church’s favor. For the first time in our nation’s history, a Black institution owns property of a white supremacist group. Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church now owns the exclusive rights to the Proud Boys trademark, stripping them of the very name they rallied under. This also means that any money the Proud Boys makes from using the trademark must be paid to Metropolitan to help satisfy the multi-million-dollar default judgment.
Tradevark hates haters, and is glad to report this important trademark-related social and cultural news.
Check out more trademark filings in the News category.
Leave a Reply