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| John L. Hill |
One of the founders of the men’s group politely approached Browne and asked if he could remove his cap, explaining that some of the members found it objectionable. Browne politely responded, “No.”
In the following days, the group leader sent an email to all members stating that the disruption caused by Browne would not be tolerated and that Browne would not be invited to future gatherings. The email also included a link to a Global News television report that Browne was a member of the Proud Boys, a group that admits only men and was classified in 2018 by the FBI as an extremist group. The U.S. research and advocacy organization Southern Poverty Law Center lists it as a hate group. The Anti-Defamation League describes the group as misogynistic, Islamophobic, transphobic and anti-immigration.
The report was aired on Global News in 2021 shortly after then-public safety minister Bill Blair designated the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization on Feb. 3. Blair stated that the group’s “intent and their escalation toward violence became quite clear” following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol in Washington.
Enrique Tarrio, chair of the Proud Boys, dismissed the terrorist label as “ridiculous.”
“There is no basis for it. It’s an infringement of free speech rights. All the Canadian Proud Boys have ever done is go to rallies,” Tarrio said.
The Proud Boys were established in 2016 by Gavin McInnes, a Canadian-born activist and journalist. Their first significant public appearance in Canada occurred on July 1, 2017, in Halifax: five members dressed in the group’s black-and-gold Fred Perry polo shirts interrupted a protest around a Cornwallis statue. Although they are predominantly based in the U.S., analysts confirm they have a presence in Canada.
Blair stated that the decision to label the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization was made because intelligence agencies were increasingly concerned about the group’s activities. Canada is the first country to designate the Proud Boys as a terrorist entity.
“There has been a serious and concerning escalation of violence — not just rhetoric but activity and planning — and that is why we have responded as we have today,” Blair said.
The group’s frequent participation as counter-protesters at events like Black Lives Matter marches and their readiness to use violence against opposing demonstrators were other reasons cited.
The new designation means the Proud Boys may have assets seized and face stiffer terrorism-related punishments.
A government official said if someone was a member of the Proud Boys, it did not necessarily mean they would be charged with a crime, but if they were to engage in violence, they could be charged with committing a terrorist act. Donating money to the organization or buying Proud Boys paraphernalia would also be deemed a crime.
On May 23, 2021, the Canadian chapter of the Proud Boys announced its dissolution.
Yet Colin Browne dismisses the idea of the group being a collection of terrorists. He states, “I’m a big hero to conservatives and an enigma from the left’s point of view.”
He maintains, “It is not white supremacist. It is a conservative Western civilization chauvinist organization, as is indicated in its credo, which is what I recited the day it was listed as a terrorist entity.”
Browne’s acceptance of the Proud Boys’ credo led to his being reported to the Law Society of Ontario for discreditable conduct. However, no action was taken against him. There have been no prosecutions of any Proud Boys adherents under the Criminal Code for terrorist activity.
Perhaps Browne is neither a terrorist nor a racist. Maybe not removing his MAGA hat was just a show of this lawyer’s support for free speech.
John L. Hill practised and taught prison law until his retirement. He holds a JD from Queen’s and an LLM in constitutional law from Osgoode Hall. His most recent book, Acts of Darkness (Durvile & UpRoute Books), was released July 1. Hill is also the author of Pine Box Parole: Terry Fitzsimmons and the Quest to End Solitary Confinement (Durvile & UpRoute Books) and The Rest of the (True Crime) Story (AOS Publishing). Contact him at johnlornehill@hotmail.com.
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