CANADA DECLARES THE PROUD BOYS A TERRORIST GROUP

Thu 04 February 2021:

The Canadian government has designated the Proud Boys group as a terrorist entity, placing the groups on the same list as the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

The Proud Boys is a far-right, male chauvinist extremist group known for engaging in violent clashes at political rallies. Canada is the first country to designate them as a terrorist entity.

“Based on their actions, each group meets the legal threshold” for the criminal designation, Public Safety Canada said as it announced the move. The agency cited “reasonable grounds to believe that an entity has knowingly participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity” or has acted on behalf of or in association with such a terrorist entity.

The Proud Boys have faced increased scrutiny after seizing on the former Trump administration’s policies and was a major agitator during earlier protests and the Capitol riot on January 6.

During a September presidential debate, Donald Trump had urged them to “stand back and stand by” when asked to condemn them by a moderator.

The agency describes the Proud Boys as “a neo-fascist organization that engages in political violence” and whose members “espouse misogynistic, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and/or white supremacist ideologies and associate with white supremacist groups.”

Public Safety Canada also notes the group’s prominent role in last month’s attack in Washington: “On January 6, 2021, the Proud Boys played a pivotal role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Leaders of the group planned their participation by setting out objectives, issuing instructions, and directing members during the insurrection.”

The terrorist designation means the group may have assets seized and face harsher terrorism-related criminal penalties. A government official said just because they are a member doesn’t mean they will be charged with a crime, but if they do engage in violent acts they could be charged with terrorist crimes.

Sending money to the organisation or buying Proud Boys paraphernalia would also be a crime.

The Canadian banks and other financial institutions must freeze any assets connected to the groups and that it’s illegal for anyone to knowingly do business with them. It’s also a crime to give support to the groups – behavior that could range from travel and training to recruitment, the government says.

In addition to the Proud Boys, Canada’s government categorized the Atomwaffen Division, The Base and the Russian Imperial Movement as terrorist entities. Also included were three al-Qaida affiliates, five ISIS affiliates and the Hizbul Mujahideen, which operates in India-administered Kashmir.

Organizations like the Proud Boys that support white supremacy & extremism have no place in our society. https://t.co/LmxE1Z9R9p

— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) February 3, 2021

The government calls the Proud Boys a neo-fascist organisation with semiautonomous chapters located in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It said it engages in political violence and that members espouse misogynistic, anti-Islam, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and white supremacist ideologies.

“Since 2018 we have seen an escalation towards violence for this group,” Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said.

“In the aftermath of the US presidential election, we have seen signals of escalation towards violence from a number of different groups including the Proud Boys.”

“Canada will not tolerate ideological, religious or politically motivated acts of violence,” Blair said.

The Proud Boys were formed in 2016 by Canadian Gavin McInnes, who co-founded Vice Media.