Modesto

PROUD BOYS RALLY BEHIND RELIGIOUS BIGOTS TO INTIMIDATE MODESTO LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

posted on Sep 14, 2020
by SIERRA FOOTHILLS STUMP & LCRW STAFF

EDITOR'S NOTE : This story was originally published by the Sierra Foothills Stump. You can read the original here and support the Stump on Patreon here.

Last year, Don James Grundmann, a religious bigot with ties to the Proud Boys and founder of the National Straight Pride Coalition, tried to hold a “Straight Pride Parade” in Modesto, CA. Grundmann’s intent was to hijack the “Straight Pride” branding of a Boston-based fascist group called Resist Marxism, who got national attention for the stunt. To capitalize off the Boston event, Grundmann wanted to hold his event a week before Resist Marxism’s. At the first Straight Pride Event in Modesto last year, the National Straight Pride Coalition struggled with PR, denied permits due to lack of insurance, and then the day of the event a handful of bigots got chased out of a barn they rented for the event by the owners, and got shouted down by a hundred or more antifascists, and liberals from the Modesto Pride Center.

This year, it was a rough one.

"Peaceful, racist group" National Straight Pride Coalition Returning to Stanislaus County 8/29

posted on Jul 26, 2020
by SABINE ALEXANDER, SIERRA FOOTHILLS STUMP

EDITOR'S NOTE : The Sierra Foothills Stump is a fledgling publication that reports on a part of California with a lot of stories and not much coverage. This article first ran on their Patreon page on the 24th. You can follow their important work on Twitter at @SabineSFS. Please consider supporting them on Patreon here, where you can read their work until their site is off the ground. You can also make make a one-time donation to the Stump through Cashapp here.

UPDATE 24 JULY 2020 1:00PM: The initial post identified Matthew Mason as the organizer of the counter-protest, but it was Chris Holland who organized the event, while Matthew later agreed to be a marshall.

Mylinda Mason and Don Grundmann’s National Straight Pride Coalition are returning to Modesto on 29 August 2020 to hold the Second Annual Stanislaus County Straight Pride Event. Mason and Grundmann’s first Straight Pride Parade was marred with complications and family drama.