Miami – in an exclusive interview at his home in Miami, Henri “Enrique” Tarrio, The former-and perhaps current-leader of Proud Boys told USA Today that he planned to continue to influence the group and said that he would continue to play a role in politics in the future.
Tarrio, who has been serving for less than two years a 22 -year -old federal prison sentence for his role in the role in the riot of January 6 at the American Capitol when President Donald Trump pulled to him on Monday, returned home to Miami on Wednesday And sat down. With USA Today Friday morning.
The former “president” of Proud Boys adopted a more prudent and less turbulent tone than in the past in his first interview with a large news agency since his release. He admitted that some rioters of January 6 had attacked the police and deserved prosecution, said that the Proud Boys had been unfairly considered a hate group, and attenuated the statements he had made on a podcast earlier This week when he called for “reprisals” against the people who put him as well as other rioters on January 6 behind bars.
“When I say ‘feel the heat’, I want to be clear that I want investigations,” said Tarrio.
When asked what he and the Proud Boys would do to bring “reprisals” to those who pursued them, if these investigations reveal nothing, Tarrio replied that he would not insist more about the issue.
“In case nothing is found, I will move on,” he said.
Tarrio, who said he did not speak with President Donald Trump before or since his release, was not in the American Capitol on January 6, 2021. The prosecutors nevertheless designated him as the brain of the attack. In the interview, Tarrio maintained its long -standing statement that the insurrection had not been organized or planned in advance.
Prosecutors presented evidence Saying that Tarrio created a special wing of Proud Boys called “Ministry of Self-Defense”, which coordinated the attacks that day and celebrated them later. “Don’t be mistaken … We did it,” Tarrio wrote to the group.
Friday, he presented himself as a victim of a corrupt system that seeks to stifle freedom of expression and to repress the opponents of the political class.
More:Trump released the leaders of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. What is the next step here? | The extract
“We are not white supremacists”
Tarrio said it was a mistake to call it “former” president of Proud Boys. He said the organization no longer discussed his management, but he said he had the support of a majority of Proud Boys.
“I think right now, I probably get along with 60 % of my guys,” he said.
The Proud Boys marry a political ideology of freedom of expression and nationalism, expressed through an offensive language, memes and controversial images. A USA TODAY survey of 2021 From the group’s Wisconsin section revealed racism and anti -Semitism, where the progression within the group depended on the intimidation of potential members and the promotion of white supremacist discussion points.
Tarrio said that the individual sections of Proud Boys remain largely independent and stressed that they are not under the total control of national leaders. He recognized that white supremacists and other extremists of the far right flocked to the Proud Boys brand, but said it was because the group had been misinterpreted by the media.
“We are not white supremacists, we are not Nazis, we are not anti -Semitic,” said Tarrio. “There is no group on which I do not insult or do not make a joke.”
The Proud Boys were less visible in the American streets during the four years following the riot of the Capitol, for which dozens of members of the group were prosecuted, imprisoned and now released. Sporadic groups of men carrying the emblematic black and gold colors of Proud Boys have appeared everywhere, from dragster shows for all ages to meetings of the local school board.
“I am a offender to equal opportunities”
But Tarrio, who describes her heritage as “Afro-Cuban”, insisted that the LGBTQ+ community and the minorities have nothing to fear from the future of Proud Boys.
“I think they should probably join their local section,” he said about the members of these groups. “I don’t think this fear is based on reality. We have never targeted specific groups because of their color, sexual or other orientation.
“I am a offender who respects equal opportunities,” he said.
Tarrio said the Proud Boys had targeted elements of American culture with which they do not agree – like dragsters’ shows for all ages or officials who openly support the Biden president – but said that members of the group would be disowned if they expressed hatred towards breeds or specific groups. .
The Proud Boys have always supported Trump and will continue to do so, especially given the graces that have released their highest leaders, Tarrio said. But he said he did not provide for the Proud Boys to have a role to play or that they are involved in the implementation of Trump’s policies.
Proud Boys will not seek to find illegal immigrants in the country to report them to the authorities, for example, said Tarrio.
“You will see them very noisy with regard to these things,” he said. “I saw other groups say:” We will help them to expel them physically “, but it is not real. It is not realistic.
As for his own future, Tarrio has half joined by saying that he could become the next local sheriff of Miami.
“I only rifle here, but I present myself as a sheriff, and I win, and it is the sheriff Enrique Tarrio, well, strange things have happened,” he said.
Will Carless covers extremism and emerging national problems for USA TODAY.