Proud Boys Legally Declared As Terrorist Group In Canada

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The Canadian Government has officially classified the Proud Boys organization as a Terrorist Group, placing them in the same standing as the Taliban, ISIS, Al Qaida, and Hamas. 

This designation means that assets and bank accounts tied to the group, or members, could be seized by the Canadian Government. It also means that those affiliated may be prevented from entering the country. It also now assigns the designation of "terrorist acts" or "terrorist activity" to crimes tied to the group. Which greater expands investigative powers, and prosecution strength.

The move to classify the far-right extremist group comes on the heels of their participation in the deadly attack on the United States Capitol Building last month, as stated in the Government's official designation:

"The Proud Boys is a neo-fascist organization that engages in political violence and was formed in 2016. Members of the group espouse misogynistic, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and/or white supremacist ideologies and associate with white supremacist groups. The Proud Boys consists of semi-autonomous chapters located in the United States (U.S.), Canada, and internationally. 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 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 U.S. Capitol. Leaders of the group planned their participation by setting out objectives, issuing instructions, and directing members during the insurrection. The leader of the Proud Boys was arrested two days before the insurrection as part of a stated effort by U.S. law enforcement to apprehend individuals who were planning to travel to the D.C. area with intentions to cause violence."

The Proud Boys first gained international attention for their involvement in the deadly 2017 Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. But gained attention in Canada specifically when members of the Canadian Armed Forces participated in a white supremacist rally in Halifax that same year.