How the Proud Boys took over the Miami-Dade Republican Party

MIAMI – At the Iconic Fontainebleau Hotel in miami beach, just after Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida roused donors and activists during a crowded April fundraiser. for Republican Party of Miami-Dade County, brawl breaks out out at the parking station. Several men in suits and woman in ruffled cocktail dress over who should as well as should were not allowed to dinner for $250 a plate.

Someone reported to the police. next day, woman who accompanied out of dinner resumed request for restraining order against one of in men involved in dispute, writing in her petition in court that he was part of of “far-right extremist cult”. She was referring to the Proud Boys, a far-right nationalist. group it was at the forefront of riot at the US Capitol last year.

The man was one of at least half-dozen current as well as former Proud Boys who have fixed places on The Miami-Dade Republican Executive Committee, seeking to influence local politics from within. Their ranks include adherents who face criminal accusations for participation in Capitol attack: Gilbert Fontikoba indicted with hinders Congress. Gabriel Garcia, former Army captain who says he has left group has been charged with intervention with law enforcement officers during civil unrest on January 6, 2021

The Proud Boys’ collaborative efforts join leadership of in party – as well as, in some cases run for local office – destabilized and radically changed the Miami-Dade Republican Party, which former Governor Jeb Bush and others built into a powerhouse almost four decades ago, transforming it from an archetype of direct institution to organization agitated by internal conflict as he struggles with forces pulling him to hard Correctly. Conflict arises at a decisive moment for Republicans nationally as primary voters weigh whether to wrest party from its extremist elements – or more fully accept them.

“Yes, we have marginal elements,” said René Garcia, chairman of Republican Committee of approximately 125 members in Miami-Dade County, who is also district commissioner and former state senator. Yes, we have different points of view in our party. it how we. And my job as chairman of the Republican Party is to defend everyone’s right to the First Amendment, but wrong they can be.”

The Proud Boys spent almost half decade engaged in frequent violent protests across the country over issues such as removal of Confederate statues and unjustified distribution of Sharia law. After the Capitol attack, however, since the Proud Boys were under investigation by law enforcement and were charged with federal crimes, they lowered their profile. group dismissed it national leadership and encouraged chapters to participate in local problems with in goal of accumulation support in promote of This is the year of the mid-term elections in Russia.

“Plan of attack If you want to make a difference is to get involved locally.” – Jeremy Bertino, Eminent Member of Proud boys from North Carolina told The New York Times. last year in in the middle of change.

What do they intend to do with them power unclear. However, following the trend promoted by the extreme right like Stephen K. Bannon, Proud Boys started showing up at school board meetings to protest coronavirus mask mandates and training of anti-racist curriculum.

In California’s Central Valley, members of in group intimidated the protesters who not want church for buy LGBT friendly theater in Fresno. The proud boy put forward his candidacy for Legislature of the State of Oregon. BUT former Proud boy in Kansas lost race for a seat on the Topeka City Council.

The Proud Boys’ encroachment on the Miami-Dade Republican Party is by far the group’s biggest political success. The incident at Fontainebleau was latest to cause unrest in party how small but a growing number of The Proud Boys have deepened existing divisions and brought an extraordinary degree of aggression in routine relationships.

This shift to the right reflects the evolution of state and national Republicans, but wonderful for Miami-Dade, Florida’s most populous county and contains Democratic presidential candidates. won since 1992. Republicans significantly improved showing them in 2020, the wobble that soured the Democrats’ outlook.

Chris Barcenas, a member of the Republican committee and a proud boy, said he started thinking about running. for seat of committee member year back.

“Instead of of sits on on the sidelines complaining about RINO or whatever,” he said, referring to “Republicans in just a name”, “I realized that in make order changesI had to participate and be a part of process.”

Barcenas, 34, voluntarily testified a few months ago to the House Select Committee investigating the case. events of January 6 about your understanding of proud boys role in Capitol attack. That day he protested in the Capitol, but did not go to the hall. building and was not charged with any crimes.

Gabriel Garcia, 37 who pleaded not guilty to Capitol attack charges, said party was once a province of country-club Republicans.

“I know a lot of of people on Committee way before me were supporting people like Jeb,” said Mr. Garcia. who lost the bet of the State Chamber in 2020. “But when Trump won, almost everyone started to fall in line.”

asked for grade of in the party’s changing identity, Mr. Bush objected. “I out of party politics and I can’t comment on what’s happening on now,” he said.

Miami-Dade Republicans paved the way way for in party install long-term power in Florida, convincing a large number of Cuban Americans – who historically registered as Democrats – to switch their belonging fueled hard- anti-communist line politics of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Many ran for officebringing generation of Cuban-American Republican Politicians. Like the county itself party — and now on his right flank — dominated by Hispanics.

For now, long time ago party stalwarts remain in control against the background of internal power strugglebut influx of Proud Boys and Radicalization of other participants created significant upheavals.

A committee member named Barbara Balmaceda recently resigned from her leadership position. role after photos posted online showed her in crowd outside Capitol on January 6. The FBI came to see her. house after attack and asked for interview, but declined, according to her lawyer. Mrs Balmaceda, who was not charged with any wrongdoing, did not comment publicly on in photos.

Ms Balmaceda said in a statement that she resigned to focus on schoolwork and because the executive committee was “a waste of time.” of time, as there is always struggle and drama.”

partyCEO director Brandon Diaz, who Ms. Balmaceda boyfriend, also resigned, citing private sector work. He said he didn’t have role in recruitment or admission of commission members. “I don’t know who or who not a proud boy,” he said, adding that he did not one.

And Mrs. Balmaceda and Mr. Diaz remain on in board of Young Miami Republicans club inside party.

Last month, a faction led by Young Republicans tried to oust some veteran party leaders, including Liliana Ros, who was with in party for more than 40 years old.

“Meetings are a bunch of fights, people scream,” said Ms Ros, 79. people – decent people, people which real Republicans are leaving.

Heads of South Florida of The Proud Boys rose to prominence after Enrique Tarrio who later became groupx national chairman, took over in end of 2018 Mr. Tarrio is now sitting in jail in Virginia, prosecution with CONSPIRACY in Capitol attack.

Proud Boys Dive South Florida politics started on January 6th. Several participants were elected party committee members in 2020 and others failed for legislative and municipal office.

One of them, Pedro Barrios, said in Interview outside interview place in heavily Cuban American city of Hialeah on Election day, when the Proud Boys epitomized “anti-socialism.”

Mr Barrios now party committee member.

Nelson Diaz, chairman from 2012 to 2020, recalled holding back far-right activists out of a party Christmas celebration in 2018 ’cause of their status and reputation for be aggressive.”

“I never knew who was a member of what group as well as who it wasn’t,” he said.

In October 2018, Mr. Diaz and a couple of The proud boys were involved in militant protest at the democratic campaign event featuring Nancy Pelosi, speaker of US house. Mr. Diaz banged on Door – for for which he later apologized – how the noisy crowd and the Proud Boys screamed outside. Mr. Diaz and the Proud Boys said they didn’t know each other or coordinate their actions.

After this ugly scene, Mr. Diaz said that he made party members who has not previously signed an oath of allegiance to the Republicans give up their places.

But party the ranks continued to replenish with right-wing members. Former committee member Christopher Monzon admitted that he was once a member of White Supremacist League of south. In 2017 he was accused of using Confederate flag for attack people who protested against the Confederacy street names in Hollywood, Florida. He refused to participate in the aggravated assault and served his probation.

Mr. Monzon, now 26, Vice President of Miami Springs Republican Club, said that on “path towards de-radicalisation” and renounced the racist ideology he previously supported. However, when he ran unsuccessfully for Hialeah City Council last year he maintained some connections online some of his league of southern friends.

He said proud boys in in party assumed that he support them because of his past Views.

“I’ve always been known as the radical one so they were like”Yeah man, we’re about to get more of our people in here,” he said.

Internet sleuths, including group called Miami Against Fascism, identified party members who are or appear to be Proud Boys or otherwise related with extreme right and chronicled their social media activity, identifying links with national figures and internal squabbles – including the quarrel at Fontainebleau on 22 April.

It started when a woman who had a restraining order against Mr. Barcenas showed up during the dinner. Also present was the woman’s ex-boyfriend, Nowell Salgueiro, another member of the committee, who had a restraining order against her.

Security escorted the woman and her husband out. But friend of woman and friend husband remained.

On the evening of the same day, friend husband decommissioned with Mr. Barcenas and Mr. Salgueiro. A friend said in lawsuits and in interview that when she went outside to pay the valet she was also ran into Mr. Salgueiro, whom she called a proud boy. He declined to comment.

In the following days more accusations and petitions rained down in court. On April 27, a West Miami police officer attended to Mr. Salgueiro. with restraining orders. He found him at the monthly meeting of Republican Party Miami-Dade.

Kitty Bennett contributed research.

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