- Court awarded $3.1M judgment with Proud Boys trademark rights to 188-year-old church
- Congregation now sells parody merchandise to redirect extremist funding to community programs
- Case continues AME tradition of legal activism dating to Reconstruction Era
- Church spends $20k/month on security after 2020 vandalism and Jan 6 pardons
- Historic ruling sets precedent for holding hate groups financially accountable
When Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church leaders voted unanimously to sue the Proud Boys in 2021, they channeled 186 years of institutional resilience. The Washington DC congregation – which hosted Frederick Douglass’ funeral and sheltered Freedom Riders – now writes a new chapter in Black legal resistance through an unprecedented trademark victory.
The federal court’s 2023 ruling awarded Metropolitan AME control of the Proud Boys’ branding after the group failed to pay $2.8 million in damages for destroying Black Lives Matter signs during their 2020 rampage. With accrued interest, the judgment now exceeds $3.1 million, though defendants have paid less than 0.5% of the total. Church attorneys continue pursuing assets through merchandise sales and organizational accounts.
Rev. William Lamar IV sees poetic justice in the congregation’s “Stay Proud, Stay Black” apparel line launching for Juneteenth. “This isn’t about revenge – it’s restorative justice,” he explains. “Every extremist T-shirt we sell funds youth mentorships and bail reform advocacy.” The strategy mirrors 1950s NAACP lawsuits that bankrupted KKK factions through court-ordered reparations.
Three critical insights emerge from this landmark case:
- Trademark law becomes racial justice tool when applied creatively
- Black churches remain dual spiritual/political institutions as in Jim Crow era
- Modern hate groups adapt old intimidation tactics requiring new defenses
Security costs now consume 15% of Metropolitan’s operating budget – a reality facing historic Black churches nationwide. From Birmingham to Baltimore, congregations report tripled protection expenses since 2016. Yet AME leaders emphasize their Capitol Hill location demands vigilance, situated just 0.8 miles from both the White House and Supreme Court.
The case intersects with broader Jan 6 fallout, as pardoned Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio remains liable for damages. Legal experts note this creates rare personal accountability beyond federal sentencing. “We’re attacking the infrastructure of hate,” says church attorney Carolyn Elefant. “Strip their branding, drain their finances, and you neutralize the threat.”
As Metropolitan prepares its 185th anniversary, members balance pride with pragmatism. “Our ancestors built this church with offering plates and freedom quilts,” says trustee Khaleelah Harris. “Now we defend it with lawsuits and security cameras.” The congregation’s next project? A voter registration drive using proceeds from their trending “Proudly Reclaimed” merchandise collection.
