On Sunday, May 16, 2021, the City of Des Moines made national news when the Los Angeles Times published a big cover story about Proud Boy Ethan Nordean, written by Los Angeles Times Seattle bureau chief and Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Read.

Entitled ‘He led the Proud Boys in the Capitol riot and shamed his town,’ the feature story includes interviews with Ethan’s father Mike Nordean, as well as social media and other online comments made over the years by locals.

Here’s an excerpt:

Dozens of merchants here on the shore of Puget Sound received a letter in August of 2019 decrying the rise of far-right extremism in America — and its arrival in their town.

“Here in our own community, a prominent seafood restaurant on Marine View Drive has a connection with the Proud Boys,” it said.

The organizers of the mailing — who left out their names and the name of the restaurant because they feared retribution — enclosed a sign that read “Hate has no business here” for businesses to post in their windows.

Few did, but word was spreading in Des Moines.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

NOTE: This story may be behind a paywall, but can be read for free here:

https://news.yahoo.com/led-proud-boys-capitol-riot-100024614.html

 

5 replies on “LA Times covers Des Moines: ‘He led the Proud Boys in the Capitol riot and shamed his town’”

  1. He shamed his parents for sure. I feel for them. Having a business here in Des Moines & having to publicly state they disown their kid.

  2. To say that one individuals actions has brought shame on all the citizens of a our city appears only to be a sensationalist grab for headline attention. The statement is specious at best. The vast majority of us in Des Moines have no connection to and no shared beliefs with the Proud Boys. Also, the parents are not responsible for the beliefs of their off-sping and the children are not accountable for the actions of their ancestors.

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