Political commentator and writer Gavin McInnes filed a lawsuit Monday against a group dedicated to combatting intolerance, alleging that its actions have contributed to his loss of employment and slandering on social media.
McInnes sued the U.S. Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for its label of the Proud Boys as a hate group. The Proud Boys is made up of “western chauvinists who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world,” according to its website.
SPLC lists the Proud Boys’ ideology as “general hate,” describing the group as a white nationalist organization known for anti-Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric.
McInnes equates the description with defamation. He is a Vice Media co-founder and founded the Proud Boys in 2016.
The Proud Boys allows and has members from multiple races.
SPLC “combats hate, intolerance, and discrimination through education and litigation,” according to its Twitter handle. It was founded in 1971.
McInnes filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Reuters reported.
Co-founder of Vice Media Gavin McInnes leaves a group of protesters after giving a speech at the University of California, Berkeley, in Berkeley, California, U.S., April 27, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
“They [SPLC] have harassed me, my family, and my friends to a level of tortious interference that goes well into sabotage,” McInnes said in a statement, according to Reuters. “I am doing this, not just to protect my reputation and my family but to protect everyone else’s.” (RELATED: Opinion: The Proud Boys And Patriots, Like Louie Screwy Farrakhan, Have Free Speech Rights)
SPLC’s actions contributed to Blaze Media’s decision to fire McInnes in December as well as his prohibition from activity on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and iTunes, according to the lawsuit.
Gavin McInnes speaks during an event called “March Against Sharia” in New York City, U.S. June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith
“Gavin McInnes has a history of making inflammatory statements about Muslims, women, and the transgender community,” law center President Richard Cohen said in reaction to the lawsuit, according to Reuters. “The fact that he’s upset with SPLC tells us that we’re doing our job exposing hate and extremism. His case is meritless.”
McInnes has asked the court to find SPLC’s description of the Proud Boys not lawful and is seeking damages, Reuters reported.
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