r/UpliftingNews • u/hybridaaroncarroll • 2d ago
A historic Black church took the Proud Boys to court. Now it controls their trademark
https://apnews.com/article/black-church-lawsuit-proud-boys-trademark-75da1ea60ab17a324e0dedf7fe2b06c44.6k
u/hybridaaroncarroll 1d ago
The church can seize money the Proud Boys make through merchandise sales. And the congregation has begun to sell lookalike shirts on its website with lines like “Stay Proud, Stay Black.” It plans to offer similar apparel for Pride Month and Juneteenth, with proceeds going to a community justice fund.
Chef's kiss right there.
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u/SebasNazarik 1d ago
I'd wear the hell out of one of those Pride shirts.
Proud boys are headquartered down here in Florida, and trump just flew Tate to bolster their neighbors. Hes been shilling for musk and his godawful deathtraps.
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u/ChanThe4th 1d ago
Wasn't their leader some FBI informant or something?
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u/Sunsparc 1d ago
Enrico's lieutenant, Jeremy Bertino, flipped on him and informed to the FBI whenever he got arrested though.
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u/irt3h9 1d ago
What's strikes me as weird/funny is how this clearly brown Afro-Cuban guy becomes the leader of an alt-right group.
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u/AscenDevise 1d ago
Such people can be a tad more subtle. Take Nick Fuentes, for example.
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u/HauntingPersonality7 7h ago
Former Canadian Citizen Ted Cruz. AG famous for spying on citizens Alberto Gonzales. Marco Rubio…
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u/Mediumish_Trashpanda 1d ago
Far right doesn't necessarily mean only white people. But it is curious since the proud boys reek of white supremacy.
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u/SebasNazarik 1d ago
No. Did Rogan tell you that?
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u/voicesinyourheadsay 1d ago
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u/AllChem_NoEcon 1d ago
I think what you meant to say was "Was their leader. Was an informant". You know, just like the other dude said.
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u/AllChem_NoEcon 1d ago
Yea, I didn't think that's what was being implied. I assumed they meant "look at these nazis having no backbone, no commitment, and no scruples". Which is an insinuation that sits alright with me.
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u/eisme 1d ago
Fred Perry should sue the fuck out of the Proud Boys. They make nice shirts, but who wants to own a shirt that neo-Nazis wear?
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u/Jollyleft 1d ago
Oh boy, do I have some bad news about who was associated with Fred Perry clothes before the proud boys.
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u/DicemonkeyDrunk 1d ago
Original Skins weren’t racist assholes …
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u/Jollyleft 1d ago
No, but let's be honest, the eighties and nineties kinda ruined the idea of originals that listened to ska and such. Predominantly skinheads have been violent racists if you lived in places like Britain and Sweden, and most of Europe.
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u/greenberet112 1d ago
I've been really into ska for over 20 years. The first time I saw a pictures of skinheads in England, white and black, it kind of blew my mind. Learning about the two-tone movement open my eyes to what was possible socially. Shaved head, doc martens, and suspenders, as a kind of working class solidarity/unity movement Is something completely foreign to me as a Pennsylvanian who grew up during the '90s.
I just kind of can't believe ska is still going. I saw street light in the fall and less than Jake is coming up this summer, the slackers are in a few days.
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u/DicemonkeyDrunk 15h ago
I disagree…it’s not the majority or even close…they just happen to be really loud and hence the ones you notice …but I’ve also never been to Sweden ( or that area of the world at all ) so I could certainly be wrong in what occurs in that area.
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u/Jollyleft 15h ago
There's a thing called a fence walker in the skinhead community and they are always on about being apolitical and such, on about it's the lifestyle and the music. They have no problem with listening to Screwdriver, "but only the first record, before they became nazis". Taking no stance is taking a stance when it comes to nazis.
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u/DicemonkeyDrunk 14h ago
And ? I’m not sure how that relates to this …all communities/ social groups have people like that and they suck …it’s certainly not confined to the skin community.
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u/Jollyleft 11h ago
The skinhead had a bigger problem with being Nazis than a lot of other communities.
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u/KahuTheKiwi 53m ago
Yeah. Like most of my skinhead mates I grew hair in the 80s. A mohawk for me.
And right wing haters I knew or had encountered shaved their heads.
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u/commandrix 1d ago
Sweet. I was hoping it would do good stuff with the money. And selling similar swag is the cherry on top.
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u/Daffan 1d ago
with lines like “Stay Proud, Stay Black.”
Ethnat for me, not for thee.
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u/Captain_JohnBrown 1d ago
I wonder if there is some sort of historical reason for this
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u/Daffan 1d ago
Ok, you create the conditions for future groups you don't like to do the same than.
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u/Captain_JohnBrown 1d ago
The "conditions" to do the same is experience systematic and complete oppression over multiple generations. Going to be a tough sell that any group I dislike will have such a complete and utter reversal of fortunes as to have it apply.
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u/Fetch_will_happen5 1d ago
Think of the merchandise though
"We endured generations of enslavement, segregation, and hate (to the point people will hurt themselves to be anti-DEI) and state enforced cruelty and all got was this lousy t-shirt!" Comedy gold 🤣 and totally worth it. They you get to have some wise guy on the internet argue over it as if there isn't a huge historical context difference between white nationalism movements and the local Irish culture parade or something. Whoo!
Who wouldn't want this?
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1d ago edited 1d ago
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u/bc524 1d ago
Context matters, mate.
"Being Proud" when it relates to minorities is generally a response to how historically (and even in modern times), society undermines these groups. They are treated as being "less" than the heteronormative, Caucasian norm. To be proud in this case is meant to convey that "What I am does not make me less than others".
Now, I get that some of the discourse (whether real or perceived is a matter I won't get into), is that subsets of white folks feel they are being put in the same position that the minorities went through, and they should also be allowed to feel "proud" of who they are, too.
And I agree, I don't think anyone should feel less about themselves simply because they're white, black, gay, trans or whatever.
Unfortunately, the term "proud" in relation to white folks rarely means this. Certain groups use this to mean "What I am makes me more than others", which is simply not true.
Hence why people get upset when you suggest that. It's not the same thing, it's not " equality" when the word is being used to mean different things.
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u/hybridaaroncarroll 1d ago
No, it's definitely racist. It's also idiotic.
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1d ago edited 1d ago
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u/Sir_PressedMemories 1d ago
You're misunderstanding the core issue, and it's a common one, so let’s break it down.
“Stay Proud, Stay Black” (or Pride Month, or Juneteenth) is about reclaiming dignity after generations of systemic oppression, discrimination, and exclusion. It’s pride in survival, in identity, and in resilience. These movements arose because people were told to feel shame for who they are.
“Stay Proud, Stay White” doesn’t exist in the same historical context. White people have never been systemically oppressed for being white, quite the opposite. When white pride is invoked, it’s almost always tied to white supremacist movements. It’s not about reclaiming dignity, it’s about maintaining dominance. That’s why it comes off as racist. Because historically, it is.
This isn’t a double standard. It’s recognizing that context matters. You can’t pretend all things are equal without accounting for power, history, and purpose.
TL;DR: Not all “pride” is created equal. If you’re proud of your heritage, great, celebrate it by embracing culture, not dog-whistle slogans used by hate groups.
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1d ago edited 1d ago
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u/Sir_PressedMemories 1d ago
You’re absolutely right, you can’t defeat racism with racism.
But that’s not what’s happening here.
Saying “Stay Black, Stay Proud” is a direct response to centuries of oppression and systemic inequality. It’s a message of empowerment and solidarity for a group that has historically been denied basic rights and humanity.
Saying “Stay White, Stay Proud” in contrast, comes from a place of dominance and exclusion. White people have never lacked representation, power, or the ability to define culture in this country. When that phrase is used, it’s almost always in service of white nationalism, not pride, but supremacy.
If you’re genuinely interested in understanding the difference, look at context and historical power dynamics. Not everything is a double standard just because it isn’t equal on the surface. Equity means lifting those who’ve been held down, not pretending we all started at the same place.
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u/ineedtotakeabigshit 1d ago
Have people just forgotten about Martin Luther King Jr and all the history with that? You know, the highly influential civil rights leader that spearheaded movements which permanently changed the dynamics of America?
Or do people with your perspective just not agree with MLK Jr, genuinely curious?
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
MLK Jr is primarily labeled as a “civil rights leader” instead of “black rights” because his messages are for everyone, regardless of race. That’s true equality.
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u/Sir_PressedMemories 1d ago
You're absolutely right that Dr. King preached love, unity, and nonviolence. However, people often cherry-pick his quotes about love and forgiveness without acknowledging the full context of his work. MLK also talked about white moderates being the greatest obstacle to justice, called out systemic injustice loudly and publicly, and was arrested nearly 30 times for protesting.
He wasn’t assassinated because he was too loving. He was assassinated because he challenged the status quo.
His vision of unity was never about ignoring race or being “colorblind.” It was about recognizing the specific and ongoing injustices Black Americans faced and working to correct them. That includes messages of pride and resilience like “Stay Black, Stay Proud,” which uplift communities that have been historically marginalized.
MLK’s legacy isn’t a silencing tool to shut down modern conversations about race. It’s a reminder that equality requires uncomfortable truths and consistent effort, not just quotes about forgiveness taken out of context.
Let’s honor his full message, not just the parts that make white people feel comfortable.
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u/ineedtotakeabigshit 1d ago
So anytime anyone brings up something that relates to something else, it’s “cherry-picking”? Let’s not divert like that.
Read the full transcript of MLKs famous speech at least, you’ll learn a lot more than the politically charged interpretations people put online.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character
How could his vision “never be about ignoring race” when countless direct quotes are stating otherwise?
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u/wuvvtwuewuvv 1d ago
which permanently changed the dynamics of America?
Some dumbass downvoted you, I gave you one back
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u/ricardoconqueso 1d ago
Are we really having convo again?
Being black in America has a unique history, experience, and definition that being white just doesn’t have. There is a shared experience black Americans generally have as a historically marginalized group. Black identity has roots in slavery and Jim Crow laws.
I’m white but not proud of my skin color specifically, I’m proud of my Scandinavian and Irish heritage. Black Americans generally have their identity in the American experience because many don’t know much of their African heritage. Much of their history was erased. “White pride” in America carries some serious baggage as a response and hateful retaliation to freed slaves and eventual by law equal rights. But the vestiges of slavery and segregation are not completely gone from America.
Same word (pride) but completely different meanings.
Now, how did I learn this? I began listening to black people. Simple as.
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u/thatHecklerOverThere 1d ago
"Double standards" doesn't apply when the two things being compared aren't the same to begin with.
Why would different situations be evaluated the same way? Use your head.
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u/canpig9 1d ago
Kinda funny. When I first heard of Proud Boys, I thought it was a good name for a gay mens' fashion kind of thing.
Bloody appalling when it turned out to be a bunch of knuckle dragging haters.
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u/WarLawck 1d ago
I could've sworn the gay community hijacked the hashtag on Twitter at one point.
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u/nasnan 1d ago
I still can't get over the fact they got their name from the title of a song from Aladdin.
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u/canpig9 20h ago
Ha! Had no idea... https://youtu.be/DX4YR3ItBsw for one rendition of the song.
And after listening to it, those backward, bigoted bullies totally missed the meaning of the song!
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u/ProfessorSputin 22h ago
Tbf their founder Gavin McInnes did famously fuck himself in the ass with a dildo on camera
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u/The_bruce42 1d ago
They should be happy "the proud boys" is like the gayest name they could have picked.
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u/PreparationKey2843 1d ago
Didn't George Takei and his buddies troll the Proud Boys by flooding Google with pictures of themselves holding hands and/or kissing so whenever you Googled "Proud Boys" pictures of two happy guys enjoying each other's company were the first top results?
Yes, yes, they did. 😂
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u/Sir_PressedMemories 1d ago
Didn't the founder shove a dildo up his ass on his TV show to "own the libs" or some such shit?
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u/StillJustDani 1d ago
Yes, yes he did.
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u/JJMcGee83 1d ago
I can't tell if this is serious or just trolling.
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u/roehnin 1d ago
He literally performed the act.
And said it was trolling the libs.
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u/lowtoiletsitter 1d ago
It's funny, because there's nothing inherently gay about assplay for dudes
But the reason why he did it in front of people is the real question
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u/ProfessorSputin 22h ago
Not trolling at all. He did it on camera. You can find it on the internet if you’d like.
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u/ten_hands_joe 1d ago
And bc ppl didn’t believe it, he even followed that up by tickling 2 of his guy buddies sphincters while saying how straight he is
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u/xFblthpx 1d ago
Wasn’t it founded by a gay man?
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u/velveteenelahrairah 1d ago
No, but the name comes from the song "Proud Of Your Boy" which was written for Aladdin by Howard Ashman, an openly gay Disney Legend.
"To our friend, Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950-1991."
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u/turbotableu 1d ago
He certainly has inserted a lot of things... back there before
And I'm pretty sure he did so on video because he wanted to prove how straight he was lol
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u/Deadcrowes 1d ago
Looks like Biden's statement calling them the Poor Boys is more right than ever.
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u/OverAchiever-er 1d ago
I’d turn the brand full on gay. Rainbows. Bright pink.
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u/nemesit 1d ago
Isn't proud boys already the gayest possible name for an organization?
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u/only_for_browsing 1d ago
I didn't think it's inherently gay, but the members have done some very gay things.
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u/StpdSxyFlndrs 1d ago
I honestly did not have a church’s actions making me smile on my bingo card. Good job, humans, and where can I contribute with a purchase?
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u/xandor123 1d ago
A church doing some legitimate good wasn't on my bingo card either. Well done.
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u/Appropriate_Mode8346 1d ago
I notice historically speaking, Black Churches usually have better goals than Evangelicals. MLK was a leader of southern Churches out of Atlanta.
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u/DadJokeBadJoke 1d ago
Methodist churches are usually closer to the teachings of Jesus than most other sects of christianity, at least in my experiences
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u/FlaccidRazor 1d ago
I've got nothing but a "Fuck Ya!" for the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. Good job!
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u/thefinalhex 1d ago
Yeah dude this doesn’t come off 100% like I know you wanted it too.
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u/FlaccidRazor 6h ago
Ok, probably should have said, "Lets fucking go!" or something but all good on the church was what I meant!
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u/NobleKorhedron 1d ago
I hate to be a grammar Nazi, but that reads like you're saying "Fuck you!" to the Church; even though I'm pretty sure I know what you're really saying...
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u/DownWithHisShip 1d ago
hell yeah, more power to them.
wait, is it the metropolitan african methodist episcopal church great lakes region? or the metropolitan african methodist episcopal church eastern region?
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u/MapleToque 1d ago
It is a gay name. It was derived from the song 'Proud of Your Boy' from the musical Aladdin which was written by Howard Ashman.
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u/Omiyaru 1d ago
Isn't this a few years old?
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u/photocist 1d ago
In December 2020, Metropolitan AME Church brought a lawsuit against the Proud Boys and its leaders for their attack on our church. We won. In June 2023, the court ordered the Proud Boys to pay us more than $2.8 million in damages, but they did not pay. To make them pay, we filed another lawsuit and asked for the rights to the Proud Boys trademark. And we have won again. Join us in celebrating this victory and continuing our fight for racial justice, human dignity, and Black liberation. Please consider purchasing a limited-edition t-shirt. All proceeds will be used to support our ministries.
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u/souplover5 1d ago
Absolutely love this. Fuck those “proud boys”. The church takes donations to their legal fund if anyone wants to donate - i did! https://www.metropolitaname.org/
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u/ten_hands_joe 1d ago
The proud boys are grown ass rural men that have crushes on their sisters and never had a childhood
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u/thefinalhex 1d ago
Yes I would agree that is a very accurate term for what they did. A modern form of cross burning.
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u/miss_cafe_au_lait 1d ago
I followed this story and heard when the court decision was made earlier this year. I am so happy for every small win we get.
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u/JJiggy13 1d ago
This more likely works out in their favor. Name changes are common for hate groups to avoid detection.
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u/TehRiddles 1d ago
It would be pretty nice if they could use this as a wedge to redefine the name into something worth being proud of.
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u/ocdl1brarian 1d ago
Oh now Reddit likes churches and doesn't want them to be taxed
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u/TomMakesPodcasts 1d ago
No? Tax that shit. That's chill.
We just hate white supremacists more than churches.
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u/ShadowMajestic 1d ago
“Stay Proud, Stay Black.”
That's racism right then and there. Society wouldn't in any way shape or form allow the phrase "Stay Proud, Stay White". And for good reason.
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u/Jiffletta 1d ago
...doesnt Disney own that trademark? Theyre named after a song from Aladdin on Broadway.
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