WASHINGTON − A historic Black church in Washington, D.C., which had its Black Lives Matter sign defaced by Proud Boys members, is set to kick off a new initiative on Monday aimed at enhancing its social justice efforts as well as those of national organizations.

According to William Lamar, pastor of the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, the initiative will serve as a platform for people to discuss future actions and strategies. “It’s about reflecting on what steps we should take next and how to find victory in our current political, spiritual, and emotional landscapes,” he told YSL News during an exclusive interview.

The initiative, which will be featured on the church’s website, aims to create an environment for dialogue around social justice issues and exploring solutions, Lamar explained.

This announcement follows a recent ruling from a D.C. judge that prohibits the Proud Boys from profiting from their name or symbols without the church’s consent. The judge’s decision allows the church to claim any revenue generated from the “sale, transfer, disposition, or licensing of the Proud Boys Trademark.”

“We hold the trademark of a violent white supremacist group and our intention is to transform this negativity into something positive,” stated Lamar.

The church took action after the Proud Boys neglected to fulfill a $2.8 million judgment against them.

Enrique Tarrio, a leader of the Proud Boys accused of damaging the sign in December 2020 after a pro-Trump rally, told YSL News on Wednesday that he does not intend to sell Proud Boys merchandise either online or in stores.

“Their rules don’t matter to us. Let them have their trademark,” he commented. “If they try to enforce it, excuse my language, but we’ll wipe our behinds with it.”

Tarrio, who identifies as afro-Cuban and asserts that his group is not white supremacist, announced plans to appeal the court’s decision. He mentioned creating personal shirts that won’t be sold commercially.

“We’re turning negative situations into positive outcomes,” said Tarrio, who was among approximately 1,600 individuals pardoned by Trump last month for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. “I will be producing shirts that call us the African Methodist Boys because they want to take our trademark.”

“Once I have my printer ready, I’ll be making these shirts, and I’m sure you’ll see plenty of people wearing them,” added Tarrio, who identifies as Baptist.

Lamar did not comment on Tarrio’s statements.

Metropolitan aims to harness this moment to support not only its own initiatives but also those of other groups focused on tackling issues such as environmental justice, health disparities, and food insecurity, Lamar noted.

“Our approach is to strengthen existing efforts,” said Lamar.

The church has since replaced the vandalized Black Lives Matter sign with a new one, which Lamar described as “larger and bolder.” The church, located in downtown Washington, is one of the city’s oldest Black congregations with a rich history tied to the Civil Rights Movement. Recently, it hosted a rally on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, where speakers from the National Action Network called upon attendees to protect civil rights throughout the Trump administration.

Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr., Will Carless