Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresno Drag Festival Appearance Part of Proud Boys New National Strategy
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 2 years ago on
December 14, 2022

Share

It wasn’t happenstance that the Proud Boys protested a drag festival at a Fresno church on Saturday.

VICE News reported Wednesday that the far-right, neo-fascist, all-male organization has shifted its street focus to anti-LGBTQ activities.

“Since June, the biggest focus for the Proud Boys this year has been anti-LGBTQ activism, a hard pivot from its actions in the first half of the year,” reports VICE News. “Proud Boys in at least 11 different states showed up to venues such as libraries and restaurants to intimidate drag shows, especially events touted as ‘family-friendly’ such as drag brunches or the popular reading series ‘Drag Queen Story Hour.’ ”

VICE News reporter Tess Owen notes that “Proud Boys continued to target pro-LGBTQ events even after a 22-year-old gunman stormed a drag queen’s birthday party at a gay club in Colorado Springs and opened fire last month, leaving five dead and dozens injured.”

Proud Boys Loud and Confrontational in Fresno

According to The Fresno Bee, the event Saturday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 2101 N. Fruit Ave., went off as planned.

“While the confrontation was at times loud and boisterous, police on hand to monitor the situation said it did not devolve into physical altercations,” reported The Bee’s Tim Sheehan.

City councilmember-elect Annalisa Perea reportedly relayed her concerns to Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama about possible threats to the LGBTQ community ahead of the event.

Proud Boys Leader Faces Sedition Charge in Capitol Attack

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four other far-right extremists are scheduled to stand trial this month for their participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Tarrio and the others face seditious conspiracy and other serious charges.

Read more about the Proud Boys and their frequent appearances at protests highlighting abortion, vaccinations, and race issues at this VICE News link.

In this Aug. 17, 2019, photo, Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio rallies in Portland, Ore. Outside pressures and internal strife are roiling two far-right extremist groups after members were charged in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Former President Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen 2020 election united an array of right-wing supporters, conspiracy theorists, and militants on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP File)

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Trump’s Budget Plan Puts David Valadao on the Medi-Cal Hot Seat

DON'T MISS

Meta to Start Testing Crowd-Sourced Fact-Checking, Based on X Example, Next Week

DON'T MISS

The One-Take Wonder of ‘Adolescence,’ a Family Drama About Knife Crime

DON'T MISS

Senate Dems Refuse to Go Along With GOP Spending Plan, as Shutdown Deadline Nears

DON'T MISS

49ers Agree to 2-Year Contract With QB Mac Jones, AP Source Says

DON'T MISS

Belgian Prosecutors Arrest Suspects in Huawei Bribery Probe Targeting EU Parliament

DON'T MISS

Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on EU Wine in Response to Proposed US Whiskey Tax

DON'T MISS

Putin Agrees in Principle With US Proposal for 30-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine

DON'T MISS

Playful Laser-Dot Chasing Bogey Is Ready to Be Your Buddy

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rebecca Ann Maestas

UP NEXT

Meta to Start Testing Crowd-Sourced Fact-Checking, Based on X Example, Next Week

UP NEXT

The One-Take Wonder of ‘Adolescence,’ a Family Drama About Knife Crime

UP NEXT

Senate Dems Refuse to Go Along With GOP Spending Plan, as Shutdown Deadline Nears

UP NEXT

49ers Agree to 2-Year Contract With QB Mac Jones, AP Source Says

UP NEXT

Belgian Prosecutors Arrest Suspects in Huawei Bribery Probe Targeting EU Parliament

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on EU Wine in Response to Proposed US Whiskey Tax

UP NEXT

Putin Agrees in Principle With US Proposal for 30-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine

UP NEXT

Playful Laser-Dot Chasing Bogey Is Ready to Be Your Buddy

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rebecca Ann Maestas

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Arrest 2 Suspects for Narcotics, Fraud at House Where They Squatted

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Senate Dems Refuse to Go Along With GOP Spending Plan, as Shutdown Deadline Nears

42 minutes ago

49ers Agree to 2-Year Contract With QB Mac Jones, AP Source Says

46 minutes ago

Belgian Prosecutors Arrest Suspects in Huawei Bribery Probe Targeting EU Parliament

52 minutes ago

Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on EU Wine in Response to Proposed US Whiskey Tax

59 minutes ago

Putin Agrees in Principle With US Proposal for 30-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine

1 hour ago

Playful Laser-Dot Chasing Bogey Is Ready to Be Your Buddy

2 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rebecca Ann Maestas

2 hours ago

Clovis Police Arrest 2 Suspects for Narcotics, Fraud at House Where They Squatted

2 hours ago

Vaccinating Poultry Could Help Cut Soaring Egg Prices but US Remains Hesitant

2 hours ago

Trump Administration Withdraws Nomination of David Weldon for CDC Director

2 hours ago

Trump’s Budget Plan Puts David Valadao on the Medi-Cal Hot Seat

Rep. David Valadao (R-Kings County) finds himself in a precarious position as President Trump pushes for budget cuts that could impact Medic...

23 minutes ago

23 minutes ago

Trump’s Budget Plan Puts David Valadao on the Medi-Cal Hot Seat

31 minutes ago

Meta to Start Testing Crowd-Sourced Fact-Checking, Based on X Example, Next Week

38 minutes ago

The One-Take Wonder of ‘Adolescence,’ a Family Drama About Knife Crime

42 minutes ago

Senate Dems Refuse to Go Along With GOP Spending Plan, as Shutdown Deadline Nears

46 minutes ago

49ers Agree to 2-Year Contract With QB Mac Jones, AP Source Says

52 minutes ago

Belgian Prosecutors Arrest Suspects in Huawei Bribery Probe Targeting EU Parliament

59 minutes ago

Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on EU Wine in Response to Proposed US Whiskey Tax

1 hour ago

Putin Agrees in Principle With US Proposal for 30-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine

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

Search

Send this to a friend