Proud boys group appear in Massillon. #proudboys #Massillon

 Posts of the far-right Proud Boys group were found in Massillon

Over the weekend, posters promoting the far-right Proud Boys were found hanging in a Massillon mall. Massillon Flyers was deployed to support the far-right group Proud Boys across town this weekend. Massillon Police Chief, Keith Moser, said his department had received two reports of placing the leaflets on private property in Amherst Mall and at the intersection of Lake Avenue and State Road 21. He said that there were no specific threats or reports of any activity in the area other than gangs. The posts, which were neither threatening nor violent, were taken as evidence. There was no indication of their status. Navarre resident Michael Harrington said he saw the exhibits while shopping on Saturday. He said the stickers were affixed to the window of the Family Dollar Store and Marc's pharmacy brand, as well as fliers outside of other companies in the mall.

"They were spread out so people could see them when they stopped their cars and got out," he said.

 

Harrington said he removed the tags, and after scanning them, handed them over to Mark's administration.

He didn't file a police report, but he hoped the companies would.

"Some of the things they said (on the posts) are not true," the 64-year-old said.

A poster removed by Harrington showed what appeared to be George Washington with his face covered in an American flag mask. "The left's lies are intended to dissuade, distract and demoralize," the poster states. "Proud comrades! Providers of free speech! Defenders of absolute freedom! Brothers of all races and orientations! Promoters of entrepreneurship!"

Other signs indicate that the area was proud. The Proud Boys have been labeled a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center. According to the SPLC, the group was established in the middle of the 2016 presidential election. Members describe themselves as "Western chauvinists" who categorically deny any connection to the racist "far-right", and insist that they are merely a fraternal group that spreads an agenda of "anti-political correctness" and "Blame against the whites. " Nevertheless, the group is known for its "anti-Muslim and anti-misogynistic rhetoric," according to the SPLC, which has been warning for some time about the group's violent tendencies. The proud Boys drew attention during the presidential debate on September 29 when President Donald Trump avoided the opportunity to condemn the group and instead told them to "stand aside and stand aside."