Chairman Of The US Neo Fascist Organization Arrested And Now Banned From Entering Washington

Proud Boys Supporters in Portland, Oregon, USA (Jim Urquhart / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Police in Washington, United States (US) arrested Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys group. The arrests were made Monday, January 4.

Tarrio has now been released. Even so the court prohibited Tarrio from re-entering the Washington area.

The Proud Boys are an extreme right and neo fascist political group that only accepts men as members. Founded in 2016, the organization now has members spread across the US and Canada.

Police arrested Tarrio on charges of destroying property and possession of magazines. Tarrio was released about one day after being arrested.

Court documents say that when he was arrested by the police two days ago Tarrio carried two empty pistol magazines. On the outside of the magazine, there are carvings of the letters "PB" along with pictures and other symbols.

Tarrio was first arrested by the police when he burned posters of the “Black Lives Matter” action at a church on December 12, 2020. Washington police also arrested two demonstrators who were protesting demanding the cancellation of the results of the presidential election on November 3, 2020.

The demonstrators were supporters of President Donald Trump, the incumbent who lost to his rival, president-elect Joe Biden. Protests against Biden's victory take place in the US capital, Washington, Tuesday, January 5.

It is believed that thousands of people will return to the streets. The US Congress, today, January 6, will validate the election results and determine Biden's victory in last year's US presidential election.

Separately, the police also arrested a man from North Carolina on suspicion of violating several regulations, including possessing an unauthorized weapon; carry weapons outside the home or place of business; has large-capacity weapon ammunition; has unregistered ammunition; and have fireworks, said local police.

Police in Washington also arrested a man from North Carolina because he was driving a vehicle without a license. Amid the arrests, hundreds of Trump supporters continued a demonstration in Washington, Tuesday, January 5.

Of the hundreds of people who attended, there was Bob Kowell (67), a retired Boeing Co. technician. Kowell traveled from Murrieta, California, to Washington.

Trump, without being able to show any evidence, accused certain elements of the general election being rigged. However, the verdict of the judge, the general election commission and the Ministry of Justice denied this accusation.

"There's a lot of evidence," Kowell said. “You just haven't seen it. There is a lot of evidence out there, "he added.