“The Proud Boys are almost like a Western fight club. They’re not your typical alt-right or white nationalist organization,” said David Goldenberg, the Anti-Defamation League’s Midwest regional director.

 

During Tuesday night’s chaotic presidential debate, Trump told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” when pressed to denounce white supremacists. Top Republican leaders sought to distance themselves from the inflammatory remarks while the hate group celebrated the president’s response.

 

The emboldened Proud Boys immediately unveiled a new logo on social media featuring the phrase “Stand Back, Stand By.”

 

“We saw their logos, memes and gifs online that changed in a matter of minutes. We saw the Fort Wayne chapter in Indiana that created almost like a recruitment flyer,” Goldenberg told News 8.

 

The e-flyer shared on Telegram reads, “To join or contact the chapter, click here!” Proud Boys leaders in Indiana did not immediately respond to requests for comment from News 8.

 

Experts feared President Donald Trump’s remarks would energize the Proud Boys — potentially inciting voter intimidation or violent clashes with left-wing protesters — and urged law enforcement agencies to monitor the group’s mobilization efforts as the Nov. 3 election drew closer.

 

The FBI “does not and will not police ideology,” an agency spokesperson said in an emailed statement to News 8. The FBI focuses on people who engage in criminal behavior, not membership in particular groups, the agency said.

 

Fort Wayne authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment from News 8.