You ever seen someone mess with the wrong one and end up paying for it big time? Well, that’s exactly what happened when a historic Black church in D.C. decided they weren’t about to let the Proud Boys get away with vandalizing their property. And how did they get their get-back? Not with fists, not with protests—but with trademark law. That’s how you play chess, not checkers.
The Backstory: When the Proud Boys Messed Up
Let’s rewind to December 2020. The Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, one of D.C.’s oldest Black churches, was vandalized by members of the Proud Boys during a pro-Trump rally. They tore down and burned a Black Lives Matter banner—bold, reckless, and just plain disrespectful.
The church could’ve just taken the L, but nah. They pulled a move straight out of Pooh Shiesty’s playbook and decided to get it back in blood—trademark edition.
The Legal Clapback: Owning the Proud Boys' Name
Fast forward to 2023: The church sued the Proud Boys in D.C. Superior Court. But instead of facing the lawsuit head-on, the Proud Boys ghosted. Big mistake. The court hit them with a $2.8 million default judgment.
Now, normally, when you owe someone millions, you either pay up or face some serious consequences. But since the Proud Boys didn’t cough up the cash, the church took a different approach. They asked for ownership of the Proud Boys' trademark—meaning the name, the logo, everything associated with the brand.
And guess what? In February 2025, a judge said, "Bet. It’s yours."
Now the AME Church has full control over the Proud Boys' name, and any money generated from it belongs to them. That’s next-level strategy.
Now, I don’t really know what Pooh Shiesty meant when he said "Come get it back in blood..." I mean, I have an idea. 😏 But if we had to define it in the trademark world, what the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church just did was it! In 2025, we not playing with y’all.
What Can Business Owners Learn From This?
This case isn’t just a wild story—it’s a masterclass in how powerful trademarks are. Here’s what you should take away from it:
🔴 Trademarks = Ownership – If you don’t legally own your name, someone else can take it. Simple as that.
🔴 Failure to Protect Your Brand Can Cost You – Just like the Proud Boys learned the hard way, if you ignore legal matters, you can lose everything.
🔴 Your Trademark is an Asset – A trademark isn’t just a legal stamp—it’s a business asset with real financial value. The fact that the church was able to use it to collect on a legal judgment proves just how valuable a trademark can be. If your brand grows, your trademark can be licensed, sold, or used as leverage in deals.
🔴 Your Trademark Can Be Used as a Weapon – The church didn’t have to sue random members of the group for damages—they went straight for the name. That’s leverage.
If a church can use trademark law to take down a whole far-right group, imagine what you can do by securing your own brand before someone tries to steal it. Whether you’re running a business, building a brand, or creating content, your trademark is your first line of defense—and a valuable asset you can use to build wealth.
Need help getting your brand protected? Book a consultation today and let’s get it back in blood—legally, of course.
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