Active Club Network

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.[5][6][7][8]

Active Club Network
FounderRobert Rundo
Foundation2021
CountryUnited States, Europe, Canada, Australia
HeadquartersCalifornia[1]
Ontario[2]
Tampere
Ideology
Allies

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.[4] He created an online messaging and merchandising organization to encourage communications with other white supremacist groups, such as Patriot Front.[9][10][11]

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.[12]

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.[13][14]

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, and Croatia.[15][16]

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.[17]

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."[18][19]

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.[17][20] 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.[21]

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. "RUSSIAN MILITIA HAS LINKS TO AMERICAN NEO-NAZI AND ANTI-TRANS FIGURES". The Intercept. 8 October 2023.
  4. "Active Club Network". Anti-Defamation League.
  5. Yousef, Odette (July 19, 2023). "'Active club' hate groups are growing in the U.S. — and making themselves seen". National Public Radio.
  6. "Active Club Network". Anti-Defamation League.
  7. Morgan Moon; Jon Lewis (September 1, 2023). "Amid Robert Rundo's Extradition, the White Supremacist Active Clubs Network Remains a Threat". Just Security.
  8. "Hiding in Plain Sight – The Transnational Right-Wing Extremist Active Club Network". Counter Extremism Project. September 22, 2023.
  9. Yousef, Odette (July 19, 2023). "'Active club' hate groups are growing in the U.S. — and making themselves seen". National Public Radio.
  10. Morgan Moon; Jon Lewis (September 1, 2023). "Amid Robert Rundo's Extradition, the White Supremacist Active Clubs Network Remains a Threat". Just Security.
  11. "Hiding in Plain Sight – The Transnational Right-Wing Extremist Active Club Network". Counter Extremism Project. September 22, 2023.
  12. "Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: The Active Club Network". Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism. March 15, 2023.
  13. Morgan Moon; Jon Lewis (September 1, 2023). "Amid Robert Rundo's Extradition, the White Supremacist Active Clubs Network Remains a Threat". Just Security.
  14. Winston, Ali (August 2, 2023). "White supremacist Robert Rundo extradited from Romania to US to face charges". The Guardian.
  15. Morgan Moon; Jon Lewis (September 1, 2023). "Amid Robert Rundo's Extradition, the White Supremacist Active Clubs Network Remains a Threat". Just Security.
  16. Mack Lamoureux (8 October 2023). "Neo-Nazi Fight Clubs Are Growing Rapidly, New Research Shows". Vice News.
  17. 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
  18. Alexander Ritzmann (September 22, 2023). "Hiding in Plain Sight – The Transnational Right-Wing Extremist Active Club Network". Counter Extremism Project.
  19. Woodward, Alex (September 26, 2023). "How white supremacist fight clubs are building covert far-right militias". The Independent.
  20. 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.
  21. "Canadian Police Just Arrested Influential Neo-Nazi 'Dark Foreigner'". 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.
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