The Role of the Proud Boys in the January 6th Insurrection

Last updated May 12, 2021

SUMMARY

This report summarizes the known activities of a particular group of approximately 200 Proud Boys who marched around the Capitol on January 6, 2021. It will be shown that this group played a significant and pre-meditated part in breaching security at the Capitol building and on the surrounding grounds. Several members of the group have been arrested, and others of them who have not been publicly charged are known to have entered the Capitol building in violation of the law.

Several Proud Boys who have not been identified as having participated in the January 6th march have been arrested for participating in the subsequent riot, and these ought to be mentioned:

Also, the FBI is particularly interested in these Proud Boys who have not yet been noticed in the larger group (see SeditionHunters.org for more details):

Also of note:


CONTENTS



Background

The Proud Boys were in Washington D.C. on December 12th, 2020 to rally in support of President Trump. They marched in their traditional gang "colors" of yellow on black. Many of them visibly carried radios, but — and we will revisit this point later — the radios were of several different makes and models.

Four people were stabbed in a fight that night and one of them was Proud Boy Jeremy Bertino, who was wounded in the stomach and taken away in an ambulance.

A Black Lives Matter banner was stolen from a church and burned in the street. Enrique Tarrio, chairman of the Proud Boys, was arrested in Washington DC on January 4th in connection with the December banner-burning incident. Banned from the city, Tarrio was not able to participate in the insurrection on the 6th. Before his arrest, Tarrio said that the Proud Boys would have an “unprecedented” presence in DC on the 6th, but would go “incognito”, not wearing their customary identifying clothing (reference).

Joe Biggs, who would lead the march on the 6th, posted a similar statement on Parler: "Attn: DC ANTIFA. We will not be attending DC in colors. We will be blending in as one of you. You won't see us. You'll even think we are you. We are going to smell like you. Move like you and look like you. The only thing we will do that's us! Is think like us! Jan 6th is gonna be epic. Can't wait to walk around with you all."


Timeline Summary

The group's activities from approximately 11:10 AM to 12:50 PM were livestreamed by Proud Boy Eddie Block up until the group overran the first set of barricades. (See archived footage here). In Block’s video we see many Proud Boys wearing hunter-orange knitted caps (or tuques as they are called in some regions), strips of orange duct tape, or bands of orange tape around their arms. The orange tuques evidently were worn by the Arizona contingent. Block's livestream shows the group marching to the east side of the Capitol, posing for photos, breaking for lunch near the 3rd street tunnel, resuming their march to the perimeter of the Capitol grounds on the west side where an equally large group of agitators had assembled, then overrunning the police at the barricades with the rest of the mob.

Many of the group are next seen in Status Coup’s livestream video (posted here but later removed by YouTube, still mirrored here), taken from approximately 12:46 PM and running to approximately 2:10 PM, though the video quality often degrades badly after 1:30. At about eight minutes in, the cameraman runs to catch up with the mob which has just overrun the outermost barricades. He manages to get ahead of most of them, then turns around to record them approaching the police line on the Capitol steps, showing the faces of many who had been marching with the Proud Boys. The majority of the video depicts activity at the police barricade on the Capitol steps.

Various other videos and photos show other incidents in which the Proud Boys marching group had a significant presence:

Photographs show that at least 80 people who took part in the march — some identifiable by name, and others still unidentified — crossed police lines and took part in the riot. At least twenty-eight were seen in the Capitol building.


Group Members


For a longer list of marchers/rioters, see this page.


The Radios

Identical new-looking Baofeng model UV-5R handheld amateur radios were worn by at least twenty people in the Proud Boys group on 1/6, including ten in the Arizona group. Biggs wore one, and Rehl appeared to have transmitted on his at one point. This model retails for around $25-$30 and has an effective transmission range of one to two miles. Its low price makes it popular, so it is not surprising to see many of them per se; but other radio models were not noticeable among the Proud Boys at this event, in an interesting contrast with the December 12th march. This strongly indicates a pre-planned effort to provide for on-site group coordination in riot conditions, and seems highly likely to have been the result of a bulk purchase.

(update 2/3/21: in paragraph 28 of the criminal complaint released today against Ethan Nordean, we find the following:

On or about, December 27, 2020, NORDEAN posted the following message on his Parler page: “Anyone looking to help us with safety/protective gear, or communications equipment it would be much appreciated, things have gotten more dangerous for us this past year, anything helps.” The post then linked to a fundraising site called “Protective gear and communications by Rufio Panman.”
... which again suggests that these radios were a bulk purchase.)

Click images below to enlarge.



Detailed Timeline and media links

The March

Time Event Location Photo Reference
undetermined Proud Boys are photographed by Amy Harris marching away from the Washington Monument toward the Capitol Washington Monument https://www.rexfeatures.com/set/11695471
11:16 Eddie Block begins livestream
https://jan6archive.com/youtube/oSOsG5kN5wc.mp4
11:43 March to east side of Capitol from north grounds East side of Capitol https://drive.google.com/file/d/13g-6LxhmtvmM2DD-ci2_PouTI73WHSZm/view
11:47 Arrival at the East side of Capitol East side of Capitol https://drive.google.com/file/d/13g-6LxhmtvmM2DD-ci2_PouTI73WHSZm/view
11:48 Scott blurts out "Take the f----ing Capitol!" off-camera and is reprimanded by the Travis Nugent: "Let's not f---ing yell that! OK?" Nordean identifies Scott ("Milkshake") over megaphone and calls him an "idiot." Someone off-camera murmurs, "Don't yell it, do it." East side of Capitol https://www.wsj.com/video/video-investigation-proud-boys-were-key-instigators-in-capitol-riot/37B883B6-9B19-400F-8036-15DE4EA8A015.html
11:49 Biggs and "Rufio" are identified on camera. A man is identified by Block as "Crazy ass Coon ass" from "Florida" East side of Capitol https://drive.google.com/file/d/13g-6LxhmtvmM2DD-ci2_PouTI73WHSZm/view
11:50 The group poses for photos East side of Capitol https://twitter.com/willsommer/status/1346861594559582210
11:50 Reuters gets a picture of the group East side of Capitol https://twitter.com/reuterspictures/status/1346890473697370114/photo/3
11:57 Chrestman talks to Nordean 1st St near Supreme Court https://twitter.com/AntiFashGordon/status/1347323744398815232
11:57 The parade is photographed extensively by Elvert Barnes 1st St near Supreme Court https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/albums/72157717774827717/with/50810570676/
11:57
1st St near Supreme Court https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AskGYXtDfCU
11:59 Parade turns down Constitution Ave Constitution Ave https://drive.google.com/file/d/13g-6LxhmtvmM2DD-ci2_PouTI73WHSZm/view
12:00 Trump addresses crowd at rally Ellipse https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-trump-said-to-supporters-on-jan-6-before-their-capitol-riot-11610498173
12:04 Block pauses and lets parade pass, their faces visible to the camera Constitution Ave https://drive.google.com/file/d/13g-6LxhmtvmM2DD-ci2_PouTI73WHSZm/view
12:05 Block asks a group of Arizona marchers about their orange hats, which they answer represent the "best chapter" of the Proud Boys Constitution Ave https://drive.google.com/file/d/13g-6LxhmtvmM2DD-ci2_PouTI73WHSZm/view
12:06 While Trump addresses the rally at the Ellipse, the Proud Boys halt for lunch near 3rd St tunnel and a 1776 merchandise stand Constitution Ave https://drive.google.com/file/d/13g-6LxhmtvmM2DD-ci2_PouTI73WHSZm/view
12:30 Crowds begin to converge at "small roundabout" Peace Monument Wall Street Journal: At the U.S. Capitol a Milling Crowd Sparked a Riot in a Few Crucial Minutes
12:45 The Proud Boys march resumes and Jeffrey Adams briefly gets it on video from a different angle than Block, corresponding roughly to the 1 hour 33 minute mark on Block's video as the marchers chant "Whose streets? Our streets!"
Jeffrey Adams
12:45 Crowds begin to heckle police over fence Peace Monument Wall Street Journal: At the U.S. Capitol a Milling Crowd Sparked a Riot in a Few Crucial Minutes
12:48 After the march has resumed and begun chanting : "a clutch of men in blaze orange hats and military-style vests turned a nearby street corner, marching straight toward them." 1st St, NW Wall Street Journal: At the U.S. Capitol a Milling Crowd Sparked a Riot in a Few Crucial Minutes
12:49 The march passes the Peace Monument Peace Monument Wall Street Journal: At the U.S. Capitol a Milling Crowd Sparked a Riot in a Few Crucial Minutes
12:50 Biggs confers with Ryan Stephen Samsel, who will be one of the first to approach barricades West side of Capitol Wall Street Journal video investigation: Proud Boys Were Key Instigators in Capitol Riot
12:52 First two rioters approach barricades West side of Capitol Wall Street Journal video investigation: Proud Boys Were Key Instigators in Capitol Riot

The Siege

12:53 Proud Boys overrun the outermost barricades West side of Capitol Wall Street Journal: At the U.S. Capitol a Milling Crowd Sparked a Riot in a Few Crucial Minutes

Status Coup video
12:56 Block's livestream ends
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13g-6LxhmtvmM2DD-ci2_PouTI73WHSZm/view
12:56-13:00 Chrestman, Nordean, Pezzola and Piccirillo shown at police line on Status Coup livestream Capitol steps, west side police line Status Coup video
12:56-12:57 Chrestman, Piccorillo, Donohoe, #CommieKiller and several others from Proud Boys march shown on Parler video at front line Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
12:59 Biggs shown on Parler video carrying an Arizona flag along with the orange-hatted Proud Boys. Video is shot from the south end of the police line and continues for 3 1/2 minutes, showing Pezzola, Nordean, Shively, Gieswin, Chrestman, Rehl, and at least 15 others from the march in close proximity.
Footage is likely to have come from the phone of the man in the orange ski mask shown right behind #RWDSstooge in the other Parler video which begins at 13:05.
Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
12:59 A 12-minute Parler video shot at the north end of the at police line begins, showing at least 10 men from the Proud Boys march including Pepe and Shively. Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
13:01 Pezzola, Biggs, and about a dozen more from the march shown on Parler video at police line Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
13:03 Chrestman incites the crowd to take the Capitol: "Whose house? Do you want it? Take it!" Capitol steps, west side police line Status Coup video (time point 17:30)
13:04 Orange-hatted Proud Boys shown at police line on Status Coup video livestream Capitol steps, west side police line Status Coup video
13:05 Parler video shows Gieswein, Chrestman, Nordean, Donohoe, and at least 10 other marchers on the western lower terrace facing the police. The Status Coup cameraman is also seen. Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
13:07 Biggs and Nordean confer at police line Capitol steps, west side police line Status Coup video
13:11 The Parler video which began at 12:59 ends with the Proud Boys motioning everyone to move north "to the stairs." Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
13:19 Nordean still at police line Capitol steps, west side police line Status Coup video
13:25 An unidentified man from the Proud Boys march wearing a red trucker cap, camouflage plate carrier, and black track suit with white stripes appears on the left side of a short Parler video. Just over an hour later (14:29) he will be shown on another Parler video inside the Capitol, wearing a helmet. Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
13:25 Kuehne is shown on Parler video next to the north scaffold on the western lower terrace. He will appear in another video at 14:11, going up the steps right behind Colon. Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
13:28 Pezzola still near police line, with several orange-hatted Proud Boys. Nearby, #YellowSwimGoggles faces off with police,  and Gieswein is with another group of orange-hatted Proud Boys. Capitol steps, west side police line  ProPublica's Parler video archive
undetermined Gieswein near scaffold Capitol steps, west side police line Shutterstock photo
13:37 Gieswein takes hold of barricades attempting to push through Capitol steps, west side police line Wall Street Journal video investigation: Proud Boys Were Key Instigators in Capitol Riot
undetermined Worrell sprays something in the direction of the police. Three other Proud Boys are seen nearby. Capitol steps, west side police line Shutterstock photo
undetermined Nordean is masked up at police line amid gas Capitol steps, west side police line ITV News
13:39 Scott, Worrell, #BeenieGiant, #CommieKiller, #SecretSquirrel and others are shown near scaffold-covered stairs on Parler video. Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
approximately 13:46 to 13:49 Scott, Donohoe, Worrell, and at least ten more men seen marching with the Proud Boys earlier that day are filmed by Luke Mogelson as the mob is about to charge up the scaffold-covered stairs and clash with police. The scuffle is captured from another angle on a Parler video (see 13:47-48 timeline entry). Capitol steps, west side police line New Yorker: A Reporter's Footage From Inside the Capitol Siege
13:47-13:48

Parler video uploaded (and presumably shot ) by Christian Edmonds, 23, of North Carolina shows twelve or more Proud Boy marchers among a small crowd at the foot of the tall stairs under the north scaffold at the western lower terrace. Worrell and #SecretSquirrel are chatting in the immediate foreground. When the push begins, Scott is at the front of a line clashing with Capitol police as they charge up the stairs underneath the scaffolding. Donohoe and Pezzola are not far behind. Pezzola is carrying a riot shield taken from the police.

The camera for this video nearly appears in Mogelson's footage, but seems to be just out of frame.

Capitol steps, west side police line ProPublica's Parler video archive
13:48 Scott is photographed near the front of a mob fighting with Capitol Police. Two others from the march are nearby. Capitol steps, west side police line Getty Images
13:58 A large group of rioters — including 3 from the Proud Boys march (#ZZTopPB, #ViperPB and #MaroonPB) — breaks through barricades on the east side of the Capitol building. At least two of these three (#ViperPB and #MaroonPB) had been with the Proud Boys on the western terrace only an hour earlier. Eastern plaza, north end ProPublica's Parler video archive
13:59 to 14:08 John Sullivan aka "Jayden X" films the mob underneath the scaffold on the tall stairs north of the western lower terrace. Gieswein and Pezzola are at the front, facing Capitol Police who are now holding a line at a landing. #RWDSstooge and #BeenieGiant are there. At 14:03, Gieswein appears to attempt to pepper-spray the police. Capitol steps, west side police line
Jayden X

Pandemonium

14:10 Rioters overwhelm the police and break through to the Capitol exterior Capitol exterior "Around 2:10 p.m., the rioters overwhelmed the police, driving through them to the top of the stairs and spilling out across the stone terrace. Others began to clamber up the massive granite walls themselves. Some already on top whooped and waved flags." Wall Street Journal: At the U.S. Capitol a Milling Crowd Sparked a Riot in a Few Crucial Minutes
14:10 to 14:45 A second, longer clip from Jayden X shows rioters overwhelming police and reaching the upper terrace at the level of the Capitol building. Gieswein and Pezzola are shown on their way up the final steps. As they are performing their break-in in front of Brendan Gutenschwager's camera (14:12, below), Pepe is shown looking out over the crowd below. Capitol exterior Jayden X
14:11 Parler video shows the line of rioters on the tall stairs moving forward. Among them are Kuehne and Colon. Capitol exterior ProPublica's Parler video archive
14:12 Pezzola shown on Parler video filming the riot from an upper terrace as the mob breaks through to the Capitol building facade. Capitol exterior ProPublica's Parler video archive
14:12 Pezzola breaks a window with the riot shield, letting rioters enter Capitol exterior BG On the Scene
14:12 Biggs and two others from the Proud Boys march are seen on the upper terrace. Capitol exterior ABQ RAW video
14:13 Pezzola and Gieswein enter the building Capitol exterior https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6uSYhyFao4&bpctr=1611522911
14:13 VP Pence is evacuated from the Senate Capitol exterior https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2021_storming_of_the_United_States_Capitol#Wednesday,_January_6
14:14 Biggs enters the building Capitol interior ProPublica's Parler video archive
14:15 Inside the building, Pezzola films the other rioters entering the Capitol, then joins the crowd headed toward Officer Goodman Capitol interior ProPublica's Parler video archive
14:16 Pezzola, Gieswein, and others confront Officer Goodman Capitol interior https://twitter.com/arawnsley/status/1350996509337284610/photo/1
14:18 "#RWDSstooge" appears in Jayden X's footage inside the capitol and more or less follows the camera for the next 25 minutes from the rioters' initial point of entry to just outside the House chamber. Capitol interior Jayden X
14:20 House of Representatives adjourns and begins to evacuate Capitol interior https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2021_storming_of_the_United_States_Capitol#Wednesday,_January_6
14:28 Police are still holding back the majority of the crowd at the lower terrace, and finally lose control Capitol interior https://projects.propublica.org/parler-capitol-videos/
14:29 Chrestman captured on New Yorker video shouting "Whose House?" inside the Capitol Capitol interior Wall Street Journal video investigation: Proud Boys Were Key Instigators in Capitol Riot
14:29 Chrestman and the Konold siblings are captured on on Parler video attempting to keep overhead security door from closing inside Capitol. Colon and DeCarlo are also visible, as well as two other as-yet unidentified men from the march:#TrackSuitPB and #ColSandersPB. Capitol interior ProPublica's Parler video archive
14:35 "Hundreds" are inside the Capitol building Capitol interior Wall Street Journal: At the U.S. Capitol a Milling Crowd Sparked a Riot in a Few Crucial Minutes
undetermined Bearded man with "Free Kyle" hoodie photographed at Capitol main entrance; seen marching with Proud Boys earlier
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2021/01/11/us/politics/11dc-investigate1/merlin_182201226_4a1f19f0-a15a-4a23-81a2-e22ba8bec3ae-superJumbo.jpg
14:42 Bearded man with "Free Kyle" hoodie filmed by Luke Mogelson in Capitol hallway; seen marching with Proud Boys earlier. The scene is also captured on Parler video from another angle. Capitol interior New Yorker: A Reporter's Footage From Inside the Capitol Siege
undetermined Two men who marched with the Proud Boys are photographed inside the Capitol. Capitol interior
https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/supporters-of-us-president-donald-trump-protest-inside-the-news-photo/1230734444
14:48 Rehl and several others from the Proud Boys march are caught on video just outside the Capitol building Capitol exterior Pro Publica's Parler video archive

Rotated, shorter video on Twitter
undetermined Nordean photographed inside Capitol Rotunda Capitol interior https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/capitol-killed-02.jpg?quality=90&strip=all
14:59 Nordean appears in background of Tyler Etheridge's Parler video inside Rotunda Capitol interior ProPublica's Parler video archive
undetermined Chrestman appears outside the Capitol Capitol exterior https://twitter.com/buckyturco/status/1346955128134389761
undetermined Nordean seen leaving Capitol Rotunda Capitol interior https://twitter.com/nine_niall/status/1355979972549160973
undetermined Nordean, Biggs, and at least two others from the march are photographed by Win McNamee inside the Capitol. Nordean appears on the left; Biggs entering the door on the right with another right behind him. Another is approaching the stairs. Capitol interior https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/protesters-supporting-u-s-president-donald-trump-gather-news-photo/1295889112
undetermined Block livestreams from the Capitol steps Capitol steps, west side police line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPi53yHq4Qw


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