The request for early release of Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, Proud Boys leader, was rejected by Superior Court Judge Jonathan H. Pittman. 

Tarrio asked to be transferred to house arrest or have his sentence reduced due to poor living conditions inside the jail.

Pittman said that the condition of Tarrio during his imprisonment is experienced by all inmates. Tarrio also requested to be released under D.C.’s “compassionate release,” Pittman also denied.

Tario’s Case

Tarrio was convicted for stealing and burning a Black Lives Matter banner from Asbury United Methodist Church, a historic Black church in D.C., after the electoral defeat of Donald Trump. 

Though he was not charged in connection to the actual riot in the Capitol last January, he was sentenced for bringing two high-capacity firearm magazines into the nation’s capital days before the attack.

Tario was arrested by Washington, D.C. police two days before the attack at the Capitol. Now, he is currently serving a five-month sentence. 

However, he claimed to be harassed by the jail officers. He also complained that his cell is flooded by water from the toilet of the next cell.

He said in a video testimony that his lockup condition inside the jail is not evident in many other prisons. He also added his experience with abusive guards, smoky hallways, and lack of medical attention. In fact, he cited his first-hand experience when his fellow inmate suffered from a seizure for thirty minutes before medical response arrived.

Proud Boys

The fraternal group was established in the middle of the 2016 presidential election in the United States. Gavin McInnes, Vice Media co-founder, led it.

The Proud Boys are self-proclaimed “Western chauvinists” who insistently reject any connection to the racist “alt-right.” They influence the community towards matters like “anti-political correctness” and “anti-white guilt.” Their ideology is centered on “general hate.”

They are known for being misogynistic and anti-Muslim. They give comments that support rape, anti-homosexuality, and anti-immigration views on social media. 

Some members also believe in white supremacy and anti-semitic views. They have staged extremist gatherings alongside other hate groups. Many have been involved in violent demonstrations and riots along the streets where members brawl with anyone in opposition.

The organization is registered as a limited liability company in Texas. It initiates its members through a multistep process which includes being punched in the arms and torso by at least five members until the new recruit enumerates the names of five breakfast cereals.

Around thirty-six members of the group have been charged in connection with the January 6 riot in the U.S. Capitol. Some of them have been convicted of conspiracy in stopping Congress from validating the victory of U.S. President Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, social media giants Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have banned the Proud Boys as they move to a more conservative approach which is favored by far-right groups.

Tarrio plans to shift the focus of the group away from Antifa and focus its activism on “big tech” like Twitter, Facebook, and Google.