Who Are the Proud Boys? Canada Names Far-Right Group a Terrorist Organization – The Wall Street Journal

On Feb. 3, Canadian officials designated the far-right Proud Boys a terrorist organization, saying they have encouraged and planned violent activities against opponents of their ideology.

The officials also cited the pivotal role the group played in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Proud Boys were key instigators of the riot, a Wall Street Journal video investigation found.

Since the attack, U.S. authorities have arrested multiple members of the group for their alleged involvement.

Among them is Ethan Nordean, 30, whose alias, Rufio Panman, is listed in the groups bylaws as a member of its first Elders Chapter. He was arrested Feb. 3, the same day that authorities announced a new indictment against the leader of the groups Honolulu chapter, Nicholas Ochs, who is accused of conspiring with a Texas man to obstruct Congresss certification of the 2020 presidential election. Mr. Ochs, who ran as a Republican for a seat in Hawaiis House of Representatives that year (he lost), filmed himself inside the Capitol and later tweeted a photo of himself and another man, cigarettes dangling from their mouths. Hello from the Capital lol, Mr. Ochs captioned his post. That evidence was used by federal authorities to arrest him.

Mr. Nordeans attorney didnt return requests for comment. A lawyer for Mr. Ochs in D.C. declined to comment. Myles Breiner, the attorney who represented Mr. Ochs in Hawaii, said the indictment was expected.

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Who Are the Proud Boys? Canada Names Far-Right Group a Terrorist Organization - The Wall Street Journal