Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

3 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

3 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

4 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

4 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

4 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

4 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

4 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

4 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

4 days ago
What is a Proud Boy? Fresno Chapter Leader Gives His Take.
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
April 16, 2021

Share

They’ve been called a hate group. White supremacists. Outside agitators.

The Fresno community’s frustration with the Proud Boys boiled over last week at the Tower Theatre protests. City Hall officials held a news conference to denounce the group.

“I don’t care what is said about us. I know the truth about us, and I’m not ashamed to be a Proud Boy.” — Fresno chapter president Mark Mazzola

The local leader of the Proud Boys pushes back against those assessments, speaking to GV Wire in an interview.

“We certainly are not a hate group. Our chapter itself is almost half Hispanic, so there’s absolutely no truth to us being a white supremacist group,” said Mark Mazzola, the president of the Fresno chapter of the Proud Boys for the last four years. “We don’t hold hate in our hearts. We hold pride in our values.”

Mazzola lives in Madera County and works in pest control.

“I don’t care what is said about us. I know the truth about us, and I’m not ashamed to be a Proud Boy,” Mazzola said.

What is a Proud Boy?

Proud Boys appearing at the Sunday rallies — many wearing the group’s black and gold colors.

“We are a men’s fraternity. We believe in Western values,” Mazzola said. “There are no rules about Proud Boys having to be any particular race or any particular religion, just being a male and believing that the Western culture is the best culture. That’s literally the only requirement.”

Mazzola said there are 20 members in the Fresno chapter. Recruits are vetted for up to six months to prevent “the wrong type of member” from joining. Initial contact is usually made by word-of-mouth, he said.

He described one instance of a “wrong member” who used the term “Aryan princess” to describe his daughter. That recruit was not offered membership.

“We’re not looking for people that are looking for a fight. We’re wanting guys that are strong alpha males or want to be better men and basically have the same general beliefs that we have,” Mazzola said.

Dues are voluntary, usually $20 a month.

Proud Boys Listed as Hate Group, Terrorists

Several civil rights groups have kept their eyes on Proud Boys’ activities. The Southern Poverty Law Center considers them a “general hate” group.

“(The Proud Boys) have no place in the city of Fresno if they are going to be creating a divide as they have. The vast majority of these individuals, if not all of them, are not even from the city of Fresno. Yet they come into our community and they try to create a divide.” — Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer

“While the group can be described as violentnationalisticIslamophobictransphobic, and misogynistic, its members represent a range of ethnic backgrounds, and its leaders vehemently protest any allegations of racism,” the Anti-Defamation League wrote of the Proud Boys.

Both organizations point out that prior Proud Boys activities including their presence at the Jan. 6  U.S. Capitol riots and the 2017 Charlottesville rally.

The government of Canada has labeled the group a terrorist organization.

Mazzola said they have it wrong.

“Specifically for my chapter, one hundred percent, yes (they are wrong). Other chapters, there have been people out there in the public with garb on that has done us disservices, their actions or their words,” Mazzola said.

Protesting at Tower Theatre

Fresno City Hall officials criticized the Proud Boys’ presence at the Tower protests. Protesters organized by the Save the Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee, have met every Sunday since January. They oppose the potential sale of the theater to Adventure Church.

The Proud Boys joined as counterdemonstrators shortly thereafter.

“They have no place in the city of Fresno if they are going to be creating a divide as they have. The vast majority of these individuals, if not all of them, are not even from the city of Fresno. Yet they come into our community and they try to create a divide,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

Mazzola said the group’s presence at the Tower protests is legitimate support of Adventure Church.

“We started noticing that the people on the left that were out there against the church were starting to exhibit values that we just don’t believe belong in our society, such as trying to push out anything that is religious. It’s a constitutional right,” Mazzola said.

Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria, who represents the Tower District, denounced the Proud Boys.

“I’m here to stand in strong support of sending that message to those folks that don’t belong in our city, that are just causing terror, that are being hateful,” Soria said. “Our LGBTQ community feels attacked because they have been called gay slurs, hateful slurs. And we’re not going to stand for that. So I denounce every bit an ounce of hate that has precipitated because of the concerning issue that started earlier this year.”

The Save the Tower group has criticized Adventure Church for not condemning the Proud Boys.

Pastor Anthony Flores, pastor of Adventure Church, did not reply when asked about the Proud Boys.

Tower Theatre supporters and the Proud Boys are on separate sides of the sidewalk at the protest on April 11. (Facebook/Oreo Express)

Verbal, Physical Battles

The two groups of protesters have clashed, mostly verbally.

“(It is in) counter volume to the people that are on the left yelling and screaming at us. I know a lot of the members get frustrated when they’re constantly called Nazis, in particular some of our very dark Hispanic brothers,” Mazzola said.

A report of a physical skirmish last Sunday sent a pregnant woman to the hospital as a precaution.

Mazzola said he did not witness the incident but did approach the woman shortly thereafter.

 

Esmeralda Soria

“Our LGBTQ community feels attacked because they have been called gay slurs, hateful slurs. And we’re not going to stand for that.” — Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria

“I myself apologized. … There should be no verbal intimidation or anything like that. She didn’t mention to me that she had been physically assaulted,” Mazzola said.

Two suspected Proud Boys members were arrested for issues unrelated to the alleged assault. One was from Santa Fe Springs in southern California.

Police say they plan to separate the Proud Boys and Tower protesters with physical barriers. Mazzola agrees that is a good idea.

“That greatly minimizes the chances of there being violence,” Mazzola said. “We’re out there to support the church, not to start problems.”

An Intimidating Look

At the Fresno protests, some Proud Boys wore tactical or military-style vests and visibly carried hunting knives and mace.

“The Proud Boys are not peaceful demonstrators. They don’t come to our demonstrations carrying signs or expressing an opinion about the Tower Theatre,” said Heather Parish of the Save the Tower group. They come wearing tactical vests, helmets and hard-knuckle gloves, carrying knives and pepper spray, and their only reason for being there is to intimidate law-abiding citizens from exercising their First Amendment right to free speech.”

Dyer also criticized the Proud Boys’ tactics: “We want to send a very strong message that intimidation tactics will not be tolerated.”

Mazzola said the gear is for protection.

“Everything that we have that would be apparently intimidating is protective equipment, with the exception of perhaps mace or pepper spray. I personally don’t see a reason why anybody should be carrying a publicly visible mace for any other reason than self-defense,” Mazzola said.

He said he wears a helmet to protect himself from projectiles thrown from groups like Antifa; his knife is for emergencies.

There have been no observed incidents of Save the Tower protesters throwing any kind of object or altercations beyond pushing and shoving.

Mazzola countered, saying there was one incident of a Proud Boy being hit by a skateboard.

We’re not Outsiders, Says Chapter President

The Proud Boy counter-protesters are described as outsiders by those at City Hall.

“When you get people who are not from this community coming in in order to intimidate, agitate, well, that’s something that — obviously they have their constitutional rights to protest and assemble, but they have to still do it within the law,” Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama said.

He said the protests were peaceful before the Proud Boys arrived.

“This matter is way too serious for us simply to stand silently as folks from out of town drive in an attempt to intimidate and threaten our residents,” city councilman Miguel Arias said. “We want to make sure that this protest isn’t hijacked any further for alternative issues that put people’s safety at risk.”

Last Sunday, Mazzola said members from neighboring chapters in Modesto and Bakersfield joined in, swelling the Proud Boys’ numbers to about 40. He expects a smaller group this Sunday.

Most of our members are actual city residents of Fresno. So I don’t see how we could be considered outsiders,” Mazzola said.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

DON'T MISS

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

DON'T MISS

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

UP NEXT

Fresno Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint on Fourth of July, Boost Holiday Patrols

UP NEXT

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

UP NEXT

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

UP NEXT

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

UP NEXT

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team

UP NEXT

Riverdale High School Coach Arrested for Allegedly Arranging to Meet Minor

UP NEXT

Could Cuddly Colby Be the Darling Gem for You?

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Tesla Slides as Musk’s ‘America Party’ Heightens Investor Worries

29 minutes ago

US-Backed 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire Envisages Gradual Return of Hostages, Official Says

32 minutes ago

Trump to Terminate Deportation Protection for Thousands of Hondurans and Nicaraguans in US

35 minutes ago

One Killed, Dozens Wounded in Russian Strikes on Kharkiv in Ukraine

38 minutes ago

Texas Girls’ Camp Mourning Dozens Dead in Floods as Search Teams Face More Rain

40 minutes ago

Netanyahu to Meet Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas Discuss Ceasefire

44 minutes ago

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

17 hours ago

Hamas Government Office Rejects US Accusation of Involvement in Gaza Aid Site Attack

17 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 78, Trump Plans Visit

17 hours ago

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

17 hours ago

Iran President Says Open to Dialogue With US, Accuses Israel of Assassination Attempt

WASHINGTON – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he believes Iran can resolve its differences with the United States through dial...

9 minutes ago

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Ilam, Iran, June 12, 2025. Iran's Presidential website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
9 minutes ago

Iran President Says Open to Dialogue With US, Accuses Israel of Assassination Attempt

Poppy, a smart and sweet 2- to 3-year-old dog who survived months alone in a field, is now ready for adoption into a loving home. (Mell's Mutts)
18 minutes ago

Shy but Sweet Field Survivor, Poppy the Pup, Now Up for Adoption

Douglas Wayne Brittain
22 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Douglas Wayne Brittain

The TESLA logo is seen outside a dealership in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., April 26, 2021. (Reuters File)
29 minutes ago

Tesla Slides as Musk’s ‘America Party’ Heightens Investor Worries

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli military offensive, shelter in tents, in Gaza City, May 20, 2025. (Reuters File)
32 minutes ago

US-Backed 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire Envisages Gradual Return of Hostages, Official Says

President Donald Trump walks after disembarking Marine One as he arrives at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 6, 2025. (Reuters File)
35 minutes ago

Trump to Terminate Deportation Protection for Thousands of Hondurans and Nicaraguans in US

A firefighter works at the site of the building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine July 7, 2025. (Reuters/Sofiia Gatilova)
38 minutes ago

One Killed, Dozens Wounded in Russian Strikes on Kharkiv in Ukraine

Members from Texas Game Wardens of the Law Enforcement Divison work following flash flooding, in Kerrville, Texas, U.S. July 6, 2025. REUTERS/Marco Bello
40 minutes ago

Texas Girls’ Camp Mourning Dozens Dead in Floods as Search Teams Face More Rain

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend