Canada labeled the Proud Boys a terrorist group Wednesday, increasing international pressure on the self-proclaimed “Western chauvinist” organization.
The far-right group has gained a broader platform in recent years with its vocal backing of former President Trump, engagement in street fights and Trump telling the group to “stand back and stand by” when he was asked to condemn white supremacy, a remark the group interpreted as a sign of support.
The group’s notoriety skyrocketed following the alleged involvement of some of its members in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Federal prosecutors last week announced the first conspiracy charges against members of the Proud Boys over their role in the deadly attack.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack that he was collecting evidence of groups that played a role in the insurrection. A terror designation would allocate more investigative tools to law enforcement and allow the freezing of the group’s assets or members’ property. It is a crime to knowingly provide assistance to a designated group, though being a member of the organization is not in itself against the law.
“They are all hateful, intolerant and we have seen they can be dangerous,” Blair said Wednesday in announcing the designation. “We have seen the type of tragic results that this kind of extremism can bring to Canada.”
Still, the move is largely symbolic given the Proud Boys’ smaller presence in Canada. Gavin McInnes, the founder of the Proud Boys, is Canadian.
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Canada labels Proud Boys a terrorist group https://t.co/MJS2sINXRo pic.twitter.com/tC2EahVli9
— The Hill (@thehill) February 3, 2021
So when will the US do the same?
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