There’s a little wine shop in downtown Ballston Spa, New York with rainbow-colored bottles lining the shop’s front window. The village is small, about 5,000 people, and attracts tourists from all around the world.

Last summer, the owner of the wine shop, Jes Rich, noticed a group of masked men in the street. “As soon as I saw them I ran out the door,” said Rich, who is openly queer and sees her shop as a safe and welcoming space for other queer people.

The men in the street were wearing black and yellow face coverings and T-shirts identifying themselves as members of the Proud Boys, a violent, far-right extremist group. A yellow truck drove alongside the group, blasting the provocative country song “Try That in a Small Town.”

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    510 months ago

    I’m convinced that Jan 6th wouldn’t have happened if pro sports hadn’t gone on hiatus during covid. Before covid a lot of people found their tribes via sports (or NASCAR). When the events stopped or got lame, the people needed something Trump and Fox News jumped on that. If you watch Trump rallies they’re basically tailgaters with a new sport.