A protester carries a Proud Boys banner, who played pivotal role in the U.S. Capitol riots. A male chauvinist extremist group known for engaging in violent clashes at political rallies. Photo / AP
A protester carries a Proud Boys banner, who played pivotal role in the U.S. Capitol riots. A male chauvinist extremist group known for engaging in violent clashes at political rallies. Photo / AP
The Canadian government designated the Proud Boys group as a terrorist entity on Wednesday, noting they played a pivotal role in the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6.
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. 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.
During a September presidential debate, Donald Trump had urged them to "stand back and stand by" when asked to condemn them by a moderator.
Senior officials speaking on a technical briefing said authorities had been monitoring and collecting evidence about the Proud Boys before the Capitol Hill insurrection, but confirmed that the event provided information that helped with the decision to list the organisation.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said they revealed themselves.
A member of the Proud Boys stands by during a rally to protest the results of the election at the Oregon State Capitol. Photo / AP
"Their intent and their escalation toward violence became quite clear," Blair said.
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 group and its members have openly encouraged, planned, and conducted violent activities against those they perceive to be opposed to their ideology and political beliefs," the Canadian government said in briefing materials.
"The group regularly attends Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests as counter-protesters, often engaging in violence targeting BLM supporters. On January 6, 2021, the Proud Boys played a pivotal role in the insurrection at the US Capitol."
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, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and white supremacist ideologies.
"Since 2018 we have seen an escalation towards violence for this group," 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."
Blair said four right-wing groups are among 13 additions to the list, which include three groups linked to al-Qaida, four associated with the Islamic State group and one Kashmiri organisation.
"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.
Gavin McInnes founder of the far-right group Proud Boys, is surrounded by supporters after speaking at a rally in California. Photo / AP
In 2018, police arrested several Proud Boys members and associates who brawled with antifascists after McInnes delivered a speech at New York's Metropolitan Republican Club.
McInnes has described the group as a politically incorrect men's club for "Western chauvinists" and denies affiliations with far-right extremist groups that overtly espouse racist and anti-Semitic views. McInnes sued the Southern Poverty Law Centre, claiming it defamed him when it designated the Proud Boys as a "hate group".
In response to the federal suit, which is still pending in Alabama, the law centre said McInnes has acknowledged an "overlap" between the Proud Boys and white nationalist groups.
"Indeed, Proud Boys members have posted social media pictures of themselves with prominent Holocaust deniers, white nationalists, and known neo-Nazis," law centre lawyers wrote in a court filing.
