A judge awarded Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Washington, D.C., more than $1 million in a lawsuit against the Proud Boys after the far-right extremist group burned down a Black Lives Matter banner during 2020 protests.
According to The Associated Press, Superior Court associate judge Neal A. Kravitz ruled in favor of Metropolitan A.M.E. on Friday after two Black Lives Matter banners were pulled down from their church and burned during clashes between the Proud Boys group and counter-demonstrators in December 2020. The extremist group also burned down banners at Asbury United Methodist Church, another historically Black church.
Kravitz barred the group and their leaders from coming near Metropolitan A.M.E., making threats or defamatory remarks against the church or its pastor for five years.
“Our courage and determination to fight back in response to the 2020 attack on our church is a beacon of hope for our community and today’s ruling showed us what our collective vision and voice can achieve,” said the Rev. William H. Lamar IV, pastor of Metropolitan A.M.E., in a statement from the church’s counsel on Saturday. “While A.M.E. refused to be silenced in the face of white supremacist violence, that does not mean real trauma and damage did not occur – merely that congregants and the church have and will continue to rise above it.”
Metropolitan A.M.E. alleged in the lawsuit that the Proud Boys violated D.C. and federal law by trespassing and destroying religious property in a bias-related conspiracy. The attacks stemmed from the extremist group protesting the results of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
The Associated Press reported that the ruling was a default judgment after the defendants failed to show up to court.
“The attack against Metropolitan A.M.E. was an attempt to silence the congregation’s voice and its support for Black life, dignity, and safety. It represents just the latest…
Read the full article here
