Among the group’s targets: journalists, a historic black church in Virginia, an Islamic Center in Texas, a former member of the United States Cabinet, and Old Dominion University, where Kelley used to attend. In November 2018, Kelley suggested that the group target its school, which resulted in a bomb threat on campus.
“Astounding attacks are serious crimes that disrupt the operations of local emergency agencies, alienate first responders from real emergencies and put victims, community members and police in grave danger,” Raj Parekh, acting US attorney for the Eastern District Virginia, said in the statement.
Kelley’s sentence is the latest development in the nation’s calculation of racially motivated hate crimes, especially as white supremacist groups have been encouraged in recent years by former President Donald Trump and in light of deadly Capitol riots in January 6.
After these disturbances, the police worked to arrest the members of the Proud Boys, who played a key role in the violent activities that day. Many of those who invaded the Capitol that day said they felt they were there at the invitation of the president.
During his presidency, Trump often had the support of these groups, who joined him as an icon who was not afraid to say what he was thinking. And in a presidential debate in September, when Trump was asked to denounce white supremacist and nationalist groups, including the Proud Boys, he declined. Instead, he replied, “Get away and wait.”
In August 2017, a Unite the Right rally was held in Charlottesville, Va., Where white nationalists gathered for a protest. Trump’s response to the rally drew a lot of criticism after he said there were “very good people on both sides”. Some saw his words as an attempt to equate white supremacists with those who protested against them. A counter-protester died after being hit by a car at the rally.