Lindsey Graham photographed with leader of white nationalist group Proud Boys

[left-of-center2012]

The South Carolina senator recently called Proud Boys a ‘racist organization,’ however, photo shows him smiling with a known leader of the white nationalist group.

Just days after President Donald Trump appeared to support the white supremacist group, Proud Boys, during Tuesday night’s presidential debate a photograph has recently surfaced showing Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) with a member and organizer of the organization. The photo shows Graham smiling for a photo-op with Joe Biggs, a known member and organizer of Proud Boys, which has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In the photo, Graham and Biggs appear to be sitting in a restaurant, as there are waiters standing behind them. Biggs is a visible organizer and leader of Proud Boys based in Florida. He’s repeatedly been photographed front and center at demonstrations.

‘theGrio’ news website reached out to Sen. Graham’s press office about the photo, however, a request for comment on if or how Graham knows Biggs personally was not responded to.

https://thegrio.com/2020/10/02/lindsey-graham-photo-proud-boys-joe-biggs/

[OneBro]

1. OMG! I'm almost . . . shocked.

Not quite, but almost. Sorta.

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. Leaving no doubt that this fuck does not belong anywhere near our government.

[volstork]

3. Sleezebag.

n/t

[rockfordfile]

6. I agree

[appalachiablue]

4. !?

[BumRushDaShow]

5. The ghost of Steve King has invaded his body

[stillcool]

7. the Proud Boys also serve as security..

for right-wingers like Lindsay.

https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounders/proud-boys-0

The Proud Boys represent an unconventional strain of American right-wing extremism. While the group can be described as violent, nationalistic, Islamophobic, transphobic and misogynistic, its members represent a range of ethnic backgrounds, and its leaders vehemently protest any allegations of racism. Their founder, Gavin McInnes, went so far as to file a defamation lawsuit against the Southern Poverty Law Center when the SPLC designated the Proud Boys a hate group.
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During the last three years, the Proud Boys have established themselves as a dominant force within the alt lite. Easily recognizable, thanks to their black and yellow Fred Perry polo shirts and red Make America Great Again baseball caps, members are regulars at far-right demonstrations and Trump rallies. After several years of forging alliances with members of the Republican political establishment, the Proud Boys have carved out a niche for themselves as both a right-wing fight club and a volunteer security force for the GOP. Despite their associations with mainstream politicians, Proud Boys’ actions and statements repeatedly land them in the company of white supremacists and right-wing extremists. Jason Kessler, the primary organizer of the deadly 2017 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, is a former Proud Boy. Several members attended the violent August 12, 2017 demonstration that ended in the death of counter-protestor Heather Heyer.

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Both U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott have been photographed alongside Proud Boys, as have U.S. Reps Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) and Devin Nunes (CA-22).

Sen. Cruz took his support a step farther, backing a non-binding resolution that would have defined anti-fascist activists as domestic terrorists after Enrique Tarrio launched a petition in favor of the bill. Even President Trump took notice and tweeted that “Major consideration is being given to naming ANTIFA an “ORGANIZATION OF TERROR.”

The Proud Boys have also been embraced by a number of Fox News hosts; McInnes has appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program more than 24 times, and Tucker Carlson has appeared on McInnes’ show.