History of Lauren Southern in Timeline

Lauren Southern is a Canadian political activist and YouTuber known for her alt-right views. She gained initial recognition through her work with Rebel Media before establishing herself as an independent content creator. Southern also ran as a Libertarian Party candidate in the 2015 Canadian federal election, though she was ultimately unsuccessful.

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Full Timeline

2000: Terrorism Act

In March 2018, Lauren Southern was questioned under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 after being denied entry to the United Kingdom.

February 2018: Distribution of flyers describing Allah as "gay"

In February 2018, Lauren Southern, along with Pettibone and Caolan Robertson, distributed flyers in Luton, England, describing Allah as "gay" as part of a social experiment video.

March 2018: Denied entry to the United Kingdom

In March 2018, Lauren Southern was denied entry to the United Kingdom while in Calais. She was scheduled to meet far-right activists Martin Sellner and Pettibone. Her denial of entry was due to her intentions during her visit, and she was questioned under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

July 2018: Speaking tour in New Zealand faces cancellations and protests

In July 2018, Lauren Southern applied for a travel visa to visit New Zealand for a speaking tour with Stefan Molyneux. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway described their views as "repugnant". Their initial venue booking was cancelled by Auckland Council due to health and safety concerns. The pair briefly cancelled and then resumed the tour. The subsequent booking of a private venue was revoked by its owners, and their venue was vandalised. Protests were held, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressed that New Zealand is "hostile" to their views.

July 2018: Denied Electronic Travel Authority visa to Australia

In July 2018, the Australian Department of Home Affairs initially denied Lauren Southern an Electronic Travel Authority visa, deeming it "not a working visa," for her planned speaking tour. She intended to charge for tickets, including an "intimate dinner." She was later allowed to enter after obtaining the correct visa and arrived wearing an "It's OK to be white" shirt.

August 2018: Auckland Mayor opposes use of Council venues for hate speech

In August 2018, the Mayor of Auckland, Phil Goff, tweeted that Council venues should not be used to "stir up ethnic or religious tensions". Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson received death threats for agreeing with the cancellation of the venue.

June 2019: Retirement from political activism

On June 2, 2019, Lauren Southern announced her retirement from political activism on her website, citing a need to move on and find fulfillment in a more private capacity.

June 2020: Return to political commentary

On June 19, 2020, Lauren Southern announced her return in a YouTube video, expressing some remorse for her previous hardline stances. An article in The Atlantic was skeptical of her change.