Facebook bans Proud Boys following violent attack in New York

Facebook is banning accounts associated with far-right extremist group the Proud Boys following the group’s violent attack on protesters in New York earlier in the month.

Facebook confirmed that Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes is banned from Facebook and Instagram, citing the company’s rules against hate groups, according to Business Insider.

{mosads}”Our team continues to study trends in organized hate and hate speech and works with partners to better understand hate organizations as they evolve. We ban these organizations and individuals from our platforms and also remove all praise and support when we become aware of it,” Facebook said in a statement to Business Insider.

The Hill has reached out to Facebook for comment.

The accounts’ removal comes after members of the group attacked protesters in New York on Oct. 12, resulting in at least five arrests of Proud Boys members.

After the incident, videos circulated of the Proud Boys punching and kicking leftist protesters as they yelled homophobic slurs.

The Proud Boys is an organization often criticized for promoting racist and sexist rhetoric. The organization claims they are not a white nationalist group, but many of their members attend white supremacist rallies across the country.

The Proud Boys are designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Republicans have claimed that social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are biased against conservatives, allegations denied by both companies.