Active Club Network

Last updated
Active Club Network
Founder Robert Rundo
Foundation2021
CountryUnited States, Europe, Canada, Australia
HeadquartersCalifornia [1]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ontario [2]
Ideology
Allies
Preceded by
Atomwaffen Division, [8] Rise Above Movement

The Active Club Network are decentralized cells of white supremacy and neo-Nazi groups active in many U.S. states, with multiple chapters in other nations. Largely inspired by the defunct street-fighting Rise Above Movement and hooliganism, the network was created in January 2021 and it promotes mixed martial arts to fight against what it asserts is a system that is targeting the white race, as well as a "warrior spirit" to prepare for a forthcoming race war. Some extremism researchers have characterized the network as a "shadow or stand-by army" which is awaiting activation as the need for it arises. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Contents

Origins

The origin of the network has been traced to Robert Rundo, who formed the Rise Above Movement in Southern California in 2017. Facing federal rioting charges in the United States, Rundo left for southeastern Europe to promote the movement. He has described his goal as creating "White Nationalism 3.0" and envisioned a decentralized cell network that would be difficult for researchers and law enforcement to track. [7] He created an online messaging and merchandising organization to encourage communications with other white supremacist groups, such as Patriot Front. [13] [14] [15]

The network adheres to the Great Replacement and white genocide conspiracy theories, conspiracy theories which are based on the belief that elites, Jews and the mainstream media are jointly engaging in a global conspiracy to replace the white population of the world with non-white immigrants. [16]

Developments

Rundo was extradited from Romania to face charges in the United States in August 2023. His supporters have held "Free Rundo" demonstrations in several countries, including Russia, Sweden, and Canada. [17] [18]

As of August 2023, the Anti-Defamation League found that Active Clubs have claimed to be present in at least 33 U.S. states. Active Clubs have also been formed in Lithuania, France, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Poland, The UK and Croatia. [19] [20] In Finland, local groups operate at least in the Uusimaa region and the cities of Tampere and Oulu and around Turku as of December 2023. [21]

The Guardian reported in August 2023 that some in the Clockwork Crew, a cell of about one dozen members in Long Beach, California, were serving or had served in the United States military. One cell member was expelled from the Marines after he and five others were caught "stealing more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition and several grenades from a weapons depot at Camp Pendleton" in 2021. A Clockwork Crew co-founder was court-martialed, sentenced to eleven months in the brig and given a bad conduct discharge for violating the Marine Corps's ban on the advocacy of extremist ideologies. [22]

In September 2023, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) characterized the network as a transnational movement which seeks to create a "shadow or stand-by army" that can mobilize itself for the purpose of launching "coordinated, large-scale" violent attacks. A CEP study revealed that the network adhered to a strategy of "hiding in plain sight" by showing a "friendly face" to recruit young white men for fitness, sports and martial arts. Alexander Ritzmann, the author of the study, stated "I've never seen a network in right-wing extremism grow so fast. Usually it takes years to build a transnational network." [23] [24]

According to Vice and The Guardian, members of the terrorist group Atomwaffen Division are active "and play key roles" in organizing the Active Club Network. [22] [25] Leading member of Atomwaffen's Canadian branch, Patrick Gordon Macdonald, who has been charged with terrorism offenses, was allegedly also a member of Canadian Active Club. [26] Kristoffer Nippak, another founding member of the Northern Order who also has been charged with terrorism offenses, is also a member of the Active Club. [27] According to the director of the University of New Brunswick’s Criminology and Criminal Justice Program, David Hoffman, Atomwaffen is using Active Clubs as a cover for organizing where they have been outlawed as a terrorist group. [8] Further, Active Club Finland trains Karelian separatists that the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev characterized as a terrorist group. [5] [28]

Related Research Articles

The Hammerskins are a white supremacist group formed in 1988 in Dallas, Texas. Their primary focus is the production and promotion of white power rock music, and many white power bands have been affiliated with the group. The Hammerskins were affiliated with the record label 9% Productions. The Hammerskins host several annual concerts, including Hammerfest, an annual event in both the United States and Europe in honor of deceased Hammerskin Joe Rowan, the lead singer of the band Nordic Thunder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Mason (neo-Nazi)</span> American Nazi

James Nolan Mason is an American neo-Nazi. Mason is an ideologue for the Atomwaffen Division, a neo-Nazi terrorist organization. After growing disillusioned with the mass movement approach of neo-Nazi movements, he began advocating for a White supremacist revolution through terrorism. He was referred to as the "Godfather of Fascist Terrorism" in the Fair Observer. He has been convicted of assault and weapons charges, as well as charged with sexual exploitation and possession of pornographic images of a minor. In 2021, Mason is one of only two individuals sanctioned by the Canadian Government on its list of terror-related entities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Right-wing terrorism</span> Terrorism motivated by right-wing and far-right ideologies

Right-wing terrorism, hard right terrorism, extreme right terrorism or far-right terrorism is terrorism that is motivated by a variety of different right-wing and far-right ideologies. It can be motivated by Ultranationalism, neo-Nazism, anti-communism, neo-fascism, ecofascism, ethnonationalism, religious nationalism, anti-immigration, anti-semitism, anti-government sentiment, patriot movements, sovereign citizen beliefs, and occasionally, it can be motivated by opposition to abortion, tax resistance, and homophobia. Modern right-wing terrorism largely emerged in Western Europe in the 1970s, and after the Revolutions of 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, it emerged in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Accelerationism is a range of revolutionary and reactionary ideas in left-wing and right-wing ideologies that call for the drastic intensification of capitalist growth, technological change, infrastructure sabotage and other processes of social change to destabilize existing systems and create radical social transformations, otherwise referred to as "acceleration". It has been regarded as an ideological spectrum divided into mutually contradictory left-wing and right-wing variants, both of which support the indefinite intensification of capitalism and its structures as well as the conditions for a technological singularity, a hypothetical point in time where technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible.

<i>Siege</i> (Mason book) Book collecting the articles of American neo-Nazi James Mason

Siege is an anthology of essays first published as a single volume in 1992, written in 1980s by James Mason, a neo-Nazi and associate of the cult leader Charles Manson. After growing disillusioned with the mass movement approach of neo-Nazi movements, he began advocating for white revolution through terrorism. Referred to as the "Godfather of Fascist Terrorism", Mason has been proscribed as a "terrorist entity" in Canada.” Mason originally wrote the essays for the eponymous newsletter of the National Socialist Liberation Front, a militant splinter of the American Nazi Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traditionalist Worker Party</span> Defunct neo-Nazi and white nationalist American political party

The Traditionalist Worker Party (TWP) was a far-right neo-Nazi political party active in the United States between 2013 and 2018, affiliated with the broader "alt-right" movement that became active within the U.S. during the 2010s. It was considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center's list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atomwaffen Division</span> International Neo-Nazi terrorist network

The Atomwaffen Division, also known as the National Socialist Resistance Front, is an international far-right extremist and neo-Nazi terrorist network. Formed in 2013 and based in the Southern United States, it has since expanded across the United States and it has also expanded into the United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, Germany, the Baltic states, and other European countries. The group is described as a part of the alt-right by some journalists, but it rejects the label and it is considered extreme even within that movement. It is listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and it is also designated as a terrorist group by multiple governments, including the United Kingdom and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antipodean Resistance</span> Australian neo-Nazi hate group

Antipodean Resistance (AR) is an Australian neo-Nazi hate group. The group, formed in October 2016, uses the slogan "We're the Hitlers you've been waiting for" and makes use of Nazi symbols such as the swastika and the Nazi salute. AR's logo features the Black Sun and Totenkopf with an Akubra hat, a laurel wreath and a swastika.

The Rise Above Movement (RAM) is a militant alt-right Southern California-based street fighting group which has variously been described as "a loose collective of violent neo-Nazis and fascists", white nationalists, white supremacists, and far-right persons. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), it "is inspired by identitarian movements in Europe and it is trying to bring their philosophies and violent tactics to the United States." Its members are primarily located in the areas of Orange County and San Diego, and are variously numbered at 20 to 50. Individual RAM members are also members of other organizations, such as the self-described Identitarian Identity Evropa/American Identity Movement, the "Western chauvinist" Proud Boys, and the neo-Nazi skinhead Hammerskin Nation, according to Northern California Anti-Racist Action (NoCARA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Base (hate group)</span> American neo-Nazi white terrorist group

The Base is a neo-Nazi accelerationist paramilitary group and training network, formed in 2018 by Rinaldo Nazzaro. It is active in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Europe, and designated as a terrorist organization in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian Imperial Movement</span> Neo-Nazi Russian paramilitary organization

The Russian Imperial Movement is a Russian ultranationalist, white supremacist, far-right paramilitary organization which operates out of Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron March</span> Neo-fascist and Neo-Nazi web forum

Iron March was a far-right neo-fascist and Neo-Nazi web forum. The site opened in 2011 and attracted neo-fascist and Neo-Nazi members, including militants from organized far-right groups and members who would later go on to commit acts of terror. The forum closed in 2017. Subsequently, former users moved to alternative websites and social networking services, such as Discord. In 2019, an anonymous individual leaked the database that hosted all Iron March content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patriotic Alternative</span> British far-right hate group

Patriotic Alternative (PA) is a British far-right, fascist, neo-Nazi and white nationalist hate group which states that it has active branches nationwide. The Times described it in 2023 as "Britain’s largest far-right white supremacist movement". Its stance has been variously described as Islamophobic, fascist and racist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GypsyCrusader</span> American far-right political commentator

Paul Nicholas Miller, better known as GypsyCrusader, is an American white supremacist internet personality. Described as antisemitic and racist by various advocacy groups and the US Department of Justice, he frequently broadcast himself on the internet cosplaying as various contemporary popular culture personas. In June 2021, Miller pleaded guilty to charges related to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, leading to a 41 months' imprisonment. He is known to have cosplayed as the Joker, the Riddler, Mario, and others while video chatting with strangers on now defunct website Omegle. He is known for his advocacy for a race war, espousing white supremacy and neo-Nazism. He has been tied to multiple alt-right and far-right organizations, including the Proud Boys and the Boogaloo movement.

Far-right terrorism in Australia has been seen as an increasing threat since the late 2010s, with a number of far-right extremist individuals and groups, including neo-Nazis and other hate groups, becoming known to authorities, in particular the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). In early 2021 the first far-right extremist group was added to the list of proscribed terrorist groups, this group being the Sonnenkrieg Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nationalist Social Club-131</span> American neo-Nazi organization

Nationalist Social Club-131, or NSC-131, is an American neo-Nazi organization; the letters 131 stand for ACA or "Anti-Communist Action". It was founded in 2019 in eastern Massachusetts by Chris Hood, who had previously tried other neo-fascist groups such as Patriot Front, the Proud Boys, and the Base. The group first attracted the attention of anti-extremism researchers during the George Floyd protests in mid-2020, which NSC-131 members hoped to leverage to increase their recruiting. Along with Patriot Front, NSC-131 is one of the most active white nationalist groups in New England as of 2022.

Terrorgram is a portmanteau neologism created by the advocacy group Hope not Hate to refer to a set of Telegram channels and accounts that subscribe to or promote militant accelerationism. Terrorgram channels are neo-fascist in ideology, and regularly share instructions and manuals on how to carry out acts of racially-motivated violence and anti-government, anti-authority terrorism. Terrorgram is a key communications forum for individuals and networks attached to Atomwaffen Division, The Base, and other explicit militant accelerationist groups.

Patrick Gordon Macdonald is a Canadian Neo-Nazi graphic designer, who uses the pseudonym Dark Foreigner.

References

  1. ↑ "This 'Violence-Ready' Militia Is Hiding in Plain Sight". Rolling Stone . 8 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "UNDERGROUND NEO-NAZI STREET GANG QUIETLY RUNNING WHITES-ONLY WORKOUT CLUBS FROM COAST TO COAST". Canadian Anti-Hate Network. 8 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: The Patriot Front". Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey . 9 December 2023. Given the Active Club network's overt accelerationism and likely desire to engage in violence, it is concerning that PF has aligned itself and trained alongside these Active Clubs.
  4. ↑ "The Right Fit: How Active Club Propaganda Attracts Women to the Far-Right". Global Network on Extremism and Technology. 9 December 2023. Individual far-right Active Clubs exist as part of a decentralised network of groups that conduct mental and physical combat training while promoting white supremacist, neofascist, and accelerationist ideologies.
  5. 1 2 Jääskeläinen, Petri (2 December 2023). "Toimivatko Active Club -kamppailukerhot porttina äärioikeistojärjestöihin? – Osa jäsenistä saattaa valmistautua itsenäisyyspäivänä väkivaltaisuuksiin". Seura (in Finnish). Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "RUSSIAN MILITIA HAS LINKS TO AMERICAN NEO-NAZI AND ANTI-TRANS FIGURES". The Intercept . 8 October 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Active Club Network". Anti-Defamation League.
  8. 1 2 "2 Ontario men accused of belonging to neo-Nazi terrorism group". Global News . "Their way around getting on this terror watch list is, 'oh, we're no longer Atomwaffen, we're Active Club Canada. Meanwhile, they continue doing what they're doing and hoping that, you know, they can get out of this legal loophole with this rebranding," Hoffman said.
  9. ↑ Yousef, Odette (July 19, 2023). "'Active club' hate groups are growing in the U.S. — and making themselves seen". National Public Radio.
  10. ↑ "Active Club Network". Anti-Defamation League.
  11. ↑ Morgan Moon; Jon Lewis (September 1, 2023). "Amid Robert Rundo's Extradition, the White Supremacist Active Clubs Network Remains a Threat". Just Security.
  12. ↑ "Hiding in Plain Sight – The Transnational Right-Wing Extremist Active Club Network". Counter Extremism Project. September 22, 2023.
  13. ↑ Yousef, Odette (July 19, 2023). "'Active club' hate groups are growing in the U.S. — and making themselves seen". National Public Radio.
  14. ↑ Morgan Moon; Jon Lewis (September 1, 2023). "Amid Robert Rundo's Extradition, the White Supremacist Active Clubs Network Remains a Threat". Just Security.
  15. ↑ "Hiding in Plain Sight – The Transnational Right-Wing Extremist Active Club Network". Counter Extremism Project. September 22, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: The Active Club Network". Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism. March 15, 2023.
  17. ↑ Morgan Moon; Jon Lewis (September 1, 2023). "Amid Robert Rundo's Extradition, the White Supremacist Active Clubs Network Remains a Threat". Just Security.
  18. ↑ Winston, Ali (August 2, 2023). "White supremacist Robert Rundo extradited from Romania to US to face charges". The Guardian.
  19. ↑ Morgan Moon; Jon Lewis (September 1, 2023). "Amid Robert Rundo's Extradition, the White Supremacist Active Clubs Network Remains a Threat". Just Security.
  20. ↑ Mack Lamoureux (8 October 2023). "Neo-Nazi Fight Clubs Are Growing Rapidly, New Research Shows". Vice News .
  21. ↑ Kerkelä, Lasse; Nieminen, Teemu (2 December 2023). "Somejulkaisut paljastavat: Näin uusi äärioikeistolainen ryhmä levittäytyy Suomeen". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  22. 1 2 Winston, Ali (August 14, 2023). "Revealed: neo-Nazi active club counts several of US military as members". The Guardian. Liel has claimed he was once affiliated with the Atomwaffen Division
  23. ↑ Alexander Ritzmann (September 22, 2023). "Hiding in Plain Sight – The Transnational Right-Wing Extremist Active Club Network". Counter Extremism Project.
  24. ↑ Woodward, Alex (September 26, 2023). "How white supremacist fight clubs are building covert far-right militias". The Independent.
  25. ↑ Mack Lamoureux (8 October 2023). "Neo-Nazi Fight Clubs Are Fat-Shaming Men Into White Nationalism". Vice News . Other sources told VICE News that former members of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen, which has been designated as a terrorist organization in Canada, are playing key roles in organizing active clubs north of the border.
  26. ↑ "Canadian Police Just Arrested Influential Neo-Nazi 'Dark Foreigner'". Vice News . 8 October 2023. Sources indicated to VICE News that he remained active with the extreme right after he was identified. Earlier this year, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network published an article alleging that he was a member of a Canadian Active Club, a neo-Nazi fitness group.
  27. ↑ "Meet the 'Entrepreneur of Hate' Behind the Rise Of Canadian Neo-Nazi Fight Clubs". Vice News . 1 December 2023.
  28. ↑ Kauppinen, Ina (2 August 2023). "Putinin "oikea käsi" esitti vakavan syytöksen Suomea kohtaan – "Tietoinen hyökkäävä kurssi maatamme kohtaan on jälleen otettu"". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 4 December 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.