Haverford Township’s Board of Commissioners would rather their citizens die in a fire than be saved by anyone affiliated with the pro-Western civilization group the Proud Boys.
A day after Haverford Township officials shut down the Bon Air Fire Company for not parting with a volunteer who had tried to join the far-right men’s group the Proud Boys, the company issued a statement Thursday defending the firefighter and its decision to keep him.
Bon Air said Thursday that the volunteer, who has been identified as Bruce McClay Jr., had done nothing wrong as a firefighter and was exercising his “right to freely assemble and to freely associate with others.”
Bon Air’s list of members, now pulled down from its website, indicated McClay was a lieutenant and vice president of the board of directors.
“While the volunteer attended some social gatherings of the outside organization, the volunteer ultimately decided, after he learned more about the group’s beliefs, that he did not wish to become part of the organization,” Bon Air said in its statement. “He never attended any rallies or protests, and he disassociated himself from the group more than one year ago. He has broken no law and committed no crime.”
McClay, the statement continued, “has not made any statements to his fellow volunteers or posted any statements on social media in support of the views of the outside organization or which reflect poorly on his ability to faithfully carry out the duties of his position to Haverford Community.”
Thought crimes are the ultimate crimes.
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