On October 19, a violent brawl broke out near the New York Metropolitan Club; several members of the Proud Boys assaulted antifa supporters. According to NBC News, five Proud Boys have been arrested in connection to the attack.
One of those men, John Kinsman, has become a viral star after other Proud Boys and their supporters began circulating a picture that is purported to show the 39-year-old as the patriarch of a Black family. Supporters hope it will prove Kinsman is not racist.
Second #ProudBoys thug arrested by #NYPD for violent NYC brawl: John Kinsman, 39, charged with attempted gang assault, attempted assault, riot, and criminal possession of a weapon https://t.co/cdea1qXafE
— Julie Laumann ???? (@Otpor17) October 20, 2018
This is John Kinsman, the #ProudBoy who was recently arrested for fighting back against #Antifa terrorists who were throwing bottles of urine and attacking people at Gavin McInnes event. This is his family. He's not a Nazi or a white supremacist. pic.twitter.com/fXd7bJEfsm
— Zombie Pineapples ???????? (@MzBittersweet81) October 21, 2018
Sham outlet @nypost says Proud Boy John Kinsman, who was recently arrested for DEFENDING HIMSELF against Antifa terrorists who were attacking people at the Gavin McInnes event is part of an "Alt-right hate group."
This is his family. He is not a Nazi or a white supremacist. pic.twitter.com/zAO7OJAuL4
— Mike Tokes (@MikeTokes) October 21, 2018
"White supremacists alt-right Proud Boy John Kinsman"
>Looks at picture
>His wife is black & they have a mixed race son
>"white supremacist alt-right"
Y'know, when Einstein talked about how human stupidity was infinite, I'm starting to think he specifically meant Tariq Nasheed. https://t.co/XmOT1NQsVF— Internet Zen Master (@InternetZenMstr) October 22, 2018
The photo of Kinsman shows the man holding a child; another child sits in a high chair, while a black woman, who Proud Boy supporters say is Kinsman's wife, smiles.
The picture appears not just in Proud Boys and alt-right tweets but on the page of Twitter user @JohnKsWife. The tweets on the page are protected, but the user has added some conservative and pro-Proud Boys hashtags, including #ProudBoysGirl, #Blaxit and #VenerateTheHousewife. The account, which is owned by ZC Kinsman, was started in February 2018.
As writer George M. Johnson mentions, having a Black family doesn't automatically erase one's racism.
Perfect example of how white people can have Black wives, kids, and friends and be EXTREMELY racist. https://t.co/nhBtcC2tcq
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) October 21, 2018
The Proud Boys describe themselves as "Western chauvinists" with an "anti-white guilt agenda." The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the Proud Boys as a hate group.
Although the group claims it isn't racist, its founder and most visible member, Vice co-founder Gavin McInnis, has proudly proclaimed his anti-Semitism according to The Huffington Post. McInnis has also written pieces with titles like "I'm Not a Racist, Sexist or a Homophobe, You N****r Slut F****t."
“His obsessions seem to be more cultural than political. Mr. McInnes, a fiscal conservative and libertarian, calls himself a champion of Western values…” pic.twitter.com/DN3jBT52YM
— Andy Campbell (@AndyBCampbell) October 17, 2018
Kinsman was charged Friday with riot, criminal possession of a weapon, gang assault and attempted gang assault. He is being held on $25,000 bond and has not commented on the picture.
Now, check these out:
White Man Confesses To Burning Black Man Alive In Letter Addressed To White Supremacist Group