Canada becomes first nation to declare the Proud Boys a terrorist organization – USA TODAY

Expert: Hate group 'Proud Boys' part of Trump base AP Domestic

The Canadian government addedthe Proud Boys,an extremist group with ties to white nationalism, to its list of terrorist organizations.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced Wednesday the Proud Boys were one of 13 groups now designated as terrorist organizations, includingthe Russian Imperial Movementand two neo-Nazi groups the Atomwaffen Division and The Base.

Canada will not tolerate ideological, religious or politically motivated acts of violence, Blair said.

Canada is the first country to designate the Proud Boysas a terrorist entity.

Designating a groupa terrorist organization allows the government to seize its assets and increase terrorism-related penalties.

A government official said just because a person is a member of the organization doesnt mean they will automatically be charged with a crime. But if that personwas to engage in violent acts, they could face terrorism charges.

Sending money to the organization or buying Proud Boys paraphernalia would also be a crime.

The announcement comes a little more than a week after Canada'sHouse of Commons unanimously passed a motioncalling for the government to use all available tools to address the proliferation of white supremacists and hate groupsstarting with the immediately designating the Proud Boys as a terrorist entity," Global News reported.

The motion was introduced by the leader of the country's New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh, who urged Canadians to "keep the pressure on" Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government to formally add the group to the list of terrorist organizations, which includes Boko Haram, the Taliban and al-Qaida.

Singh celebrated the announcement, calling it a victory for young people, working people and Black, brown and Indigenous people on Twitter.

The Proud Boyswere founded in 2016 byVice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes, a Canadian, anddescribed themselves at the time as a politically incorrect mens club for Western chauvinists."

Who are the Proud Boys?Far-right group has concerned experts for years

McInnes quit the Proud Boys after an October2018clashbetween group members and antifa that followedhis speech at New Yorks Metropolitan Republican Club.

The group is known for its"anti-Muslimand misogynistic rhetoric," according toThe Southern Poverty Law Center, a legaladvocacy organizationthat has designated the Proud Boys as a hate group. The SPLC has been warning about the group's violent tendencies for years.

The Canadian government calls the Proud Boys a neo-fascist organization with semiautonomous chapters located in Canada, the United States and other countries. It said the groupengages in political violence and that members espouse misogynistic, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrantand white supremacist ideologies.

The group has faced renewed criticismafter several members were arrested for participating in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol building in support of former President Donald Trump.A Canadian government senior official said the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol contributed to the designation.

More: Proud Boys organizer Joseph Biggs charged in deadly Capitol riot

Enrique Tarrio, the group's current leader,was arrestedlast month in Washington, D.C., and charged with destruction of property in connection with a Decemberincidentwhere set fire toaBlack Lives Matter banner after a Trump rally. The banner had been taken from a historic Black church.

Contributing: Joel Shannon and Will Carless, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg

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Canada becomes first nation to declare the Proud Boys a terrorist organization - USA TODAY