The Canadian authorities has designated the Proud Boys, a far-right hate group, as a terrorist group within the wake of its involvement within t
The Canadian authorities has designated the Proud Boys, a far-right hate group, as a terrorist group within the wake of its involvement within the January 6 rebellion on the US Capitol.
The Canadian authorities cited the group’s engagement in violence in opposition to Black Lives Matter protesters in addition to its “pivotal function” within the rebellion as causes behind the designation.
The designation will permit the Canadian authorities to show away members of the Proud Boys on the border and take away their web postings inside Canada, in addition to impose penalties on anybody who offers with their property or funds. Whereas the group was based in 2016 within the US, the place it stays most prevalent, there are semi-autonomous chapters primarily based in Canada.
“Violent acts of terrorism haven’t any place in Canadian society or overseas,” Canadian public security minister Invoice Blair stated in a press release. “Canadians anticipate their authorities to maintain them secure and to maintain tempo with evolving threats and international tendencies, such because the rising menace of ideologically motivated violent extremism.”
Canada’s determination to designate the Proud Boys as a terrorist group has put strain on US authorities to do the identical. White Home press secretary Jen Psaki stated Wednesday that the Biden administration’s nationwide safety staff is at the moment analyzing “violence and the sort of regarding group exercise throughout the nation” and can make a dedication as to tips on how to proceed as soon as that assessment is full.
The Congressional Analysis Service has asserted that the Capitol rebellion was an act of home terrorism, as outlined by federal laws and regulation, and famous that the FBI has recognized the prison exercise by the Proud Boys to pose a home terrorism menace. However the US authorities at the moment doesn’t formally designate home teams as terrorist organizations — that designation is reserved for overseas actors.
Former President Donald Trump beforehand referred to as for the militant left-wing group antifa to be designated as a home terrorist group, however that may have required creating a brand new authorized mechanism. It’s potential that Congress may cross a regulation creating that mechanism, however that may elevate considerations concerning the authorities utilizing the designation to infringe on First Modification free speech rights and goal sure ideologies. Ought to the Biden administration need to designate the Proud Boys as home terrorists, they’d possible face the identical quandary.
Particular person Proud Boys have begun dealing with authorized penalties for his or her function within the Capitol riot
Members of the Proud Boys are being prosecuted for his or her function within the occasions main as much as and together with the Capitol rebellion.
The group’s chief, Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, was arrested two days earlier than the rebellion for allegedly burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was stolen from a church in northwest Washington, DC, following a “Cease the Steal” rally in December. When he was arrested, police discovered him in possession of two high-capacity firearm magazines. He was consequently charged with destruction of property and possession of a high-capacity feeding machine.
Two further members — Dominic Pezzola and William Pepe, each of New York — had been charged with conspiracy final week for storming the Capitol constructing. Federal prosecutors stated that they “engaged in a conspiracy to hinder, affect, impede, and intrude with regulation enforcement officers engaged of their official duties in defending the U.S. Capitol and its grounds on Jan. 6, 2021.”
The group has vocally supported Trump and his efforts to overturn the outcomes of the 2020 election, making appearances at varied “Cease the Steal” rallies nationwide. Trump infamously refused to denounce them and different white supremacist organizations throughout a presidential debate with now-President Joe Biden in October, instructing them to as an alternative “stand again and stand by.” Trump later downplayed the assertion, however many within the group took it as a command, embracing it as a rallying cry and put it on their official merchandise.