Canada puts Proud Boys on terror list, citing active security threat

TORONTO－The Canadian government designated the Proud Boys group as a terrorist entity on Wednesday, noting its members played a pivotal role in the insurrection at the US Capitol last month.

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.

The group has faced increased scrutiny after seizing on the policies of former US president Donald Trump's administration and the group was a major participant during earlier protests and the Capitol riot on Jan 6.

During a September presidential debate, Trump had urged the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by" when asked to condemn them by a moderator.

Although the Proud Boys have never mounted an attack in Canada, Canadian Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said domestic intelligence forces had become increasingly worried about the group.

Blair said they had revealed themselves. "Their intent and their escalation toward violence became quite clear," Blair said.

The government calls the Proud Boys a neo-fascist organization with semi-autonomous chapters located in the US, Canada, and internationally. It said it engages in political violence and members espouse misogynistic, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and white supremacist ideologies.

"Since 2018 we have seen an escalation toward violence for this group," Blair said.

Enrique Tarrio, chairman of the Proud Boys, called the terrorist designation "ridiculous".

"All the Canadian Proud Boys have ever done is go to rallies," he said. "They used what happened at the Capitol to push for this."

Tarrio said the Canadian chapters are very quiet compared to their counterparts in the United States. He estimated there are between 1,000 and 1,500 Proud Boys in Canada.

US federal authorities, meanwhile, arrested on Wednesday a man who describes himself as the "Sergeant of Arms" of the Seattle chapter of the Proud Boys after he was charged in connection with the riot at the US Capitol.

He is at least the eighth defendant linked to the Proud Boys facing federal charges after thousands of pro-Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol as Congress was meeting to certify Joe Biden's presidential win.

Review underway

Asked whether the US will follow Canada and designate Proud Boys as a terrorist entity, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the US has a domestic extremism review underway.

"We will wait for that review to conclude before we make any determinations," she said.

The terrorist designation in Canada means the group may have assets seized and face harsher terrorism-related criminal penalties.

A government official said just because they are a member does not mean they will be charged with a crime, but if they do engage in violent acts they could be charged with terrorist crimes.

Nelson Wiseman, a political-science professor at the University of Toronto, said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's liberal government is trying to attach its star to the anti-Trump sentiment prevalent in the country.

"Since the Proud Boys are identified with Trump, they are an easy target. Had Trump won the election, I'm confident the liberals would not have gone after the Proud Boys," Wiseman said.

"There is right-wing extremism in Canada but much, much less than in the US."

Agencies - Xinhua