WASHINGTON — A historic black church in D.C. that now controls the “Proud Boys” trademark sued a New York chapter of the group this week to block it from selling merchandise and clothing under the name.

Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church says the Hudson Valley Proud Boys Chapter and its president, William Pepe , have violated the trademark awarded to the church in February after the Proud Boys failed to pay a multimillion-dollar judgment for vandalizing the property in late 2020. Its lawsuit claims the chapter has continued to use the Proud Boys name in recruitment efforts, on its website and on merchandise and clothing still being sold online.

“Defendants’ continued and unauthorized use of the ‘Proud Boys’ trademark without payment of licensing or royalty fees dis

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