{"id":586,"date":"2021-02-06T03:05:36","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T03:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/jrn-305-2021\/?p=586"},"modified":"2021-02-06T03:05:36","modified_gmt":"2021-02-06T03:05:36","slug":"following-u-s-capitol-attack-feds-list-proud-boys-as-terrorist-entity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/jrn-305-2021\/2021\/02\/06\/following-u-s-capitol-attack-feds-list-proud-boys-as-terrorist-entity\/","title":{"rendered":"Following U.S. Capitol attack, feds list Proud Boys as terrorist entity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The federal government declared white nationalist group the Proud Boys a terrorist organization, announcing it at a press conference on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair spoke on the decision and said extremism poses a threat to the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn several different occasions we have seen the tragic results that this \u2013 a type of extremism \u2013 can bring to Canadian soil,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the addition of the group and 12 others to the list of terrorist entities, Blair mentioned the designation aids investigations and allows government intervention in group-related activities. A listed group\u2019s presence online can be taken down and known members entering Canada can be denied entry, according to a press release<\/a> on the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The designation came following Parliament unanimously passing a motion to do so on Jan. 25 after a petition<\/a> was circulated following the attack by far-right nationalists at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With the founder of the Proud Boys being Canadian, the attack on the U.S. Capitol prompted greater awareness on far-right nationalist activity in Canada. More than 100 white supremacist groups are active across Canada, according to a 2016 study from Public Safety Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extremism and hate groups have posed a risk for years, however, the decision to list the group as a terrorist entity could impact those working and fighting against injustices, said the Canadian Anti-Hate Network in an interview via email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe issue is less that people are ignoring it [extremism] and more so that we don’t currently have the tools to effectively deal with it,\u201d they said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSocial media companies are shirking responsibility while they act as a recruitment ground.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n