The founder of the far-right “Proud Boys” group was denied a visa to tour Australia after failing the character test, ABC News Australia reported Friday.
Gavin McInnes, who also co-founded Vice Media, applied for a visa to visit the country next year for “The Deplorables” tour, a speaking tour with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
He was reportedly notified several weeks ago that his visa was denied because he was found to be of bad character. The window for him to appeal the Home Affairs Department’s decision closed on Friday, ABC News Australia reported.
{mosads}Immigration Minister David Coleman reportedly banned McInnes from traveling to the country out of fear his presence would promote violence.
Lawyer Nyadol Nyuon had started a petition calling on the Australian Parliament to block McInnes from entering the country.
The petition was signed by more than 80,000 people.
“I’m happy that women, non-whites, certain members of the LGBTI communities don’t have to live in an atmosphere of fear after these individuals are allowed to come in, or from the fear of what that might suggest to them,” Nyuon told the outlet.
McInnes has repeatedly denied that the Proud Boys are a white nationalist or “alt-right” organization, but the FBI has classified the Proud Boys as an extremist group since the summer.
The group labels itself as “a pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world; aka Western Chauvinists.”
McInnes, who disassociated from the group earlier this month, had previously labeled the group a “gang,” the outlet noted.
Amazon and PayPal have both cut ties with the Proud Boys after several members were involved in a violent clash in New York last month.
Facebook is also banning accounts associated with members.