{{Short description|Decentralized cells of white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups}} {{use mdy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox militant organization | name = Active Clubs | logo = | logo_size = 100px | foundation = 2021 | country = United States, Finland, Estonia, Russia, France and other European countries as well as Canada and Australia | founder = Robert Rundo | headquarters = California<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/white-nationalist-active-clubs-1234835015/|title=This 'Violence-Ready' Militia Is Hiding in Plain Sight|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=8 October 2023}}</ref><br>Ontario<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.antihate.ca/neo_nazi_street_gang_quietly_whites_only_workout_clubs_canada_vinland_hammerskins|title=Underground neo-Nazi street gang quietly running whites-only workout clubs from coast to coast|date=8 October 2023|publisher=Canadian Anti-Hate Network}}</ref> | ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap| |Accelerationism<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/ctec-publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-patriot|title=Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: The Patriot Front |publisher=Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey|quote=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.|date=9 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="gnet-research.org">{{cite web|url=https://gnet-research.org/2023/12/05/the-right-fit-how-active-club-propaganda-attracts-women-to-the-far-right/ |title=The Right Fit: How Active Club Propaganda Attracts Women to the Far-Right |publisher=Global Network on Extremism and Technology |quote=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.|date=9 December 2023}}</ref> |Neo-Nazism |White supremacy |White nationalism |Anti-immigration |Ultranationalism }} | position = Far-right<ref name="gnet-research.org">{{cite web|url=https://gnet-research.org/2023/12/05/the-right-fit-how-active-club-propaganda-attracts-women-to-the-far-right/ |title=The Right Fit: How Active Club Propaganda Attracts Women to the Far-Right |publisher=Global Network on Extremism and Technology |quote=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.|date=9 December 2023}}</ref> | allies = {{tree list}} *Atomwaffen Division *Karelian Group **Karelian National Movement<ref name=Karelian/> *Patriot Front<ref name=ADL/> *Blue-and-Black Movement<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mäntysalo |first1=Jesse |title=Yle selvitti, mitä Tampereen vappurähinöissä oikeasti tapahtui |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20159301 |agency=Yle |issue=Yle selvitti, mitä Tampereen vappurähinöissä oikeasti tapahtui}}</ref> *Action Française *Groupe Union Défense *Junge Nationalisten *Nordic Resistance Movement *Autonome Nationalisten {{tree list/end}} | website = {{url|https://activeclub.org}} <br> {{url|https://activeclubengland.org}} (England) <br> {{url|https://aktivklubb.se}} (Sweden) <br> {{url|https://www.aktivklubb.no}} (Norway) | predecessor = Atomwaffen Division,<ref name=AWD/> Rise Above Movement }}
'''Active Clubs''' are decentralized cells of white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups active in North America and Europe. Largely inspired by the defunct street-fighting Rise Above Movement formed by Robert Rundo in 2017 and hooliganism, the network was created in January 2021 and 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 could be activated for coordinated violence.<ref name="National Public Radio">{{cite news |last1=Yousef |first1=Odette |title='Active club' hate groups are growing in the U.S. — and making themselves seen |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/19/1188111769/active-club-hate-groups |publisher=National Public Radio |date=July 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Active Club Network |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/active-club-network |publisher=Anti-Defamation League}}</ref><ref name="justsecurity"/><ref name="Counter Extremism Project">{{cite news |title=Hiding in Plain Sight – The Transnational Right-Wing Extremist Active Club Network |url=https://extremism.gwu.edu/hiding-plain-sight |publisher=Counter Extremism Project |date=September 22, 2023}}</ref> The English branch was involved in organising the 2024 United Kingdom riots.<ref name=":3" />
==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.<ref name=ADL>{{cite news |title=Active Club Network |publisher=Anti-Defamation League |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/active-club-network}}</ref> He created an online messaging and merchandising organization to encourage communications with other white supremacist groups, such as Patriot Front.<ref name="National Public Radio"/><ref name="justsecurity"/><ref name="Counter Extremism Project"/>
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.<ref name="justsecurity"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Winston |first1=Ali |title=White supremacist Robert Rundo extradited from Romania to US to face charges |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/02/robert-rundo-white-supremacist-extradited-romania-charges-los-angeles |work=The Guardian |date=August 2, 2023}}</ref>
==Description== The network adheres to the Great Replacement and white genocide conspiracy theories, conspiracy theories which are based on the belief that elites, Jewish elites and the mainstream media are jointly engaging in a global conspiracy to replace the white population of the world with non-white immigrants.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: The Active Club Network |url=https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/ctec-publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-active |publisher=Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism |date=March 15, 2023}}</ref>
According to ''Vice'' and ''The Guardian'', members of the Atomwaffen Division are active "and play key roles" in organizing the Active Club Network.<ref name=Guardian/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/neo-nazi-fight-clubs-robert-rundo-fat-shaming-white-nationalism/|title=Neo-Nazi Fight Clubs Are Fat-Shaming Men Into White Nationalism|work=Vice News|date=8 October 2023|author=Mack Lamoureux|quote=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.}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gnet-research.org/2023/09/25/the-significance-of-dark-foreigners-arrest/|title='A New Image of Terror and Dread': The Significance Of Dark Foreigner's Arrest|date=12 August 2024|work=Global network on extremism and technology}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dark-foreigner-arrested-canada-terrorism/|quote=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.|title=Canadian Police Just Arrested Influential Neo-Nazi 'Dark Foreigner'|date=8 October 2023|work=Vice News}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/meet-the-entrepreneur-of-hate-behind-the-rise-of-canadian-neo-nazi-fight-clubs/|title=Meet the 'Entrepreneur of Hate' Behind the Rise Of Canadian Neo-Nazi Fight Clubs|work=Vice News|date=1 December 2023}}</ref> According to the director of the University of New Brunswick’s Criminology and Criminal Justice Program, David Hofmann, Atomwaffen is using Active Clubs as a cover for organizing where they have been outlawed as a terrorist group.<ref name=AWD>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10157791/ontario-terrorism-charges/|title=2 Ontario men accused of belonging to neo-Nazi terrorism group|work=Global News|quote=“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,” Hofmann said.}}</ref> Further, Active Club Finland trains Karelian separatists that the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev characterized as a terrorist group.<ref name=Karelian>{{cite web|url=https://seura.fi/asiat/tutkivat/active-club-kamppailukerhot-saattavat-toimia-porttina-aarioikeistojarjestoihin-osa-jasenista-valmistautuu-itsenaisyyspaivana-vakivaltaisuuksiin/|title=Toimivatko Active Club -kamppailukerhot porttina äärioikeistojärjestöihin? – Osa jäsenistä saattaa valmistautua itsenäisyyspäivänä väkivaltaisuuksiin|last=Jääskeläinen|first=Petri|work=Seura|date=2 December 2023|access-date=4 December 2023|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000009757660.html|title=Putinin "oikea käsi" esitti vakavan syytöksen Suomea kohtaan – "Tietoinen hyökkäävä kurssi maatamme kohtaan on jälleen otettu"|last=Kauppinen|first=Ina|work=Ilta-Sanomat|date=2 August 2023|access-date=4 December 2023|language=fi}}</ref> New Jersey man Andrew Takhistov who took part in Active Club "Free Rundo" demonstration is charged with plotting an attack on energy infrastructure and synagogues. Takhistov also stated that he was involved in the production of Terrorgram propaganda and planned to join the Russian Volunteer Corps.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/terrorgram-collective-indictments/|title='Terrorgram' Charges Show US Has Had Tools to Crack Down on Far-Right Terrorism All Along|magazine=Wired|date=14 September 2024}}</ref>
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.<ref name=hiding>{{cite news |title=Hiding in Plain Sight – The Transnational Right-Wing Extremist Active Club Network |url=https://extremism.gwu.edu/hiding-plain-sight |publisher=Counter Extremism Project |date=September 22, 2023|author=Alexander Ritzmann}}</ref><ref name=woodward2023/>
==Expansion== Alexander Ritzmann, the author of the 2023 CEP study, stated "I've never seen a network in right-wing extremism grow so fast. Usually it takes years to build a transnational network."<ref name=woodward2023>{{cite news |last1=Woodward |first1=Alex |title=How white supremacist fight clubs are building covert far-right militias |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/active-club-nazi-militia-groups-b2418427.html |work=The Independent |date=September 26, 2023}}</ref>
{{As of|2023|August}}, 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, United Kingdom, and Croatia.<ref name=justsecurity>{{cite news |title=Amid Robert Rundo's Extradition, the White Supremacist Active Clubs Network Remains a Threat |url=https://www.justsecurity.org/87970/amid-robert-rundos-extradition-the-white-supremacist-active-clubs-network-remains-a-threat/ |publisher=Just Security |date=September 1, 2023|author1=Morgan Moon|author2=Jon Lewis}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/neo-nazi-active-clubs-rising-globally/|title=Neo-Nazi Fight Clubs Are Growing Rapidly, New Research Shows|work=Vice News|date=8 October 2023|author=Mack Lamoureux}}</ref>
In June 2025, the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) reported that there were now 187 active AC chapters in 27 countries. They reported that this represented an increase of 25% since late 2023. Half of the new AC chapters were "Youth Clubs" that "recruit teen boys 15 to 18".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Active Club Chapters Growing Globally|url=https://globalextremism.org/post/active-club-chapters-growing-globally/ |date=2025-06-30 |website=Global Project Against Hate and Extremism}}</ref>
===Australia=== In August 2024, it was reported that Australia had an Active Club Network. Known neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell leads a group in South Australia known as Croweater. Sewell was suspended from X in July 2024, but the Croweater page remains, featuring a photo of masked members carrying a banner reading "Australia for the white man". However the clubs were not well-established in Australia as of August 2024.<ref>{{cite web | last=Jeuniewic | first=Lexie | title=Active Clubs and white supremacy groups targeting young men a 'threat to social cohesion' in Australia | website=ABC News | date=3 August 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-03/active-clubs-white-supremecy-groups-targeting-men/104164174 | access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref>
===Canada=== As of March 2026, over 30 clubs operate in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Szeto |first=Eric |date=Mar 3, 2026 |title=White nationalist fight clubs pose risk for 'extreme violence,' warns government report |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/active-clubs-report-public-safety-canada-9.7109011 |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=CBC |quote=Of the more than 200 known active club chapters globally, a “disproportionate” number, more than 30, operate in Canada, according to the report.}}</ref> According to an internal Public Safety Canada brief which was obtained by CBC News, Canada has a "disproportionate" number of active clubs compared to other nations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Szeto |first=Eric |date=Mar 3, 2026 |title=White nationalist fight clubs pose risk for 'extreme violence,' warns government report |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/active-clubs-report-public-safety-canada-9.7109011 |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=CBC |quote=The growing white nationalist "active club" movement poses a risk for "extreme violence" in Canada, according to an internal Public Safety Canada brief obtained by CBC News. The report appears to reveal, for the first time, that the federal department that oversees the RCMP is addressing this movement directly. In previous reporting, the RCMP would not specifically comment on the rapid rise of active clubs — white nationalist groups that operate under the guise of getting fit through training and combat sports. Of the more than 200 known active club chapters globally, a “disproportionate” number, more than 30, operate in Canada, according to the report.}}</ref> This is not counting the over 15 chapters of the Second Sons, an organization which the report by Public Safety Canada describes as "a similar far-right group."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Szeto |first=Eric |date=Mar 3, 2026 |title=White nationalist fight clubs pose risk for 'extreme violence,' warns government report |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/active-clubs-report-public-safety-canada-9.7109011 |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=CBC |quote=Of the more than 200 known active club chapters globally, a “disproportionate” number, more than 30, operate in Canada, according to the report. Second Sons Canada — a similar far-right group — has more than 15 chapters.}}</ref>
The Nationalist-13 active club which is based in Hamilton, Ontario has been noted by CBC News for becoming more public and active in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/ns13-gathering-city-hall-9.7103114|title=White supremacist group gathers again in Hamilton, community leaders call on city and police to do something|date=24 February 2026|access-date=26 February 2026|website=CBC News}}</ref>
Members of Canadian active clubs often use the Canadian Red Ensign flag, believing it to be the "true" Canadian flag.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jul 18, 2025 |title=Tracking Canada's fascist fight clubs |url=https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/fascist-fight-club |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=CBC}}</ref>
===Estonia=== Estonian Active Club members were involved with the "NS/SK!НОВ" Telegram channel that spread terrorist propaganda and organized far-right violence. Estonian member ran the "Pedo Hunting Estonia" channel. In 2024, three Active Club Estonia members were convicted of far-right vigilantism. According to an Estonian Internal Security Service report Active Club Estonia is "a group mainly engaged in promoting Tesak-style vigilante operations in Estonia". Active Club Estonia has members fighting in Ukraine and has organized charity drives for them. Estonian Active Club was allegedly founded with the support of Estonian Atomwaffen member.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.accresearch.org/shortanalysis/dont-get-fooledthe-extreme-right-active-club-network-is-not-about-combat-sports|work=Accelerationism Research Consortium|date=29 July 2025|title=Don't Get Fooled—The Extreme-Right Active Club Network Is Not About Combat Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://kapo.ee/sites/default/files/content_page_attachments/annual-review-2024-2025.pdf|work=Estonian Internal Security Service|date=29 July 2025|title=Annual Review 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/meet-the-entrepreneur-of-hate-behind-the-rise-of-canadian-neo-nazi-fight-clubs/|work=Vice News|date=29 July 2025|title=Meet the 'Entrepreneur of Hate' Behind the Rise Of Canadian Neo-Nazi Fight Clubs}}</ref>
===Finland=== In Finland, local groups operate at least in the Uusimaa and Päijät-Häme regions and Oulu, Turku, Tampere, and Kokkola as of May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Somejulkaisut paljastavat: Näin uusi äärioikeistolainen ryhmä levittäytyy Suomeen |last1=Kerkelä |first1=Lasse |last2=Nieminen |first2=Teemu |work=Helsingin Sanomat |date=2 December 2023 |access-date=7 December 2023 |url= https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009980902.html |language=fi }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.counterextremism.com/press/extremist-content-online-white-supremacists-celebrate-anniversary-buffalo-terror-attack|title=Extremist Content Online: White Supremacists Celebrate Anniversary Of Buffalo Terror Attack on Social Media|work=Counter Extremism Project|date=22 May 2024}}</ref> Active Club Finland took part in the 2024 Independence Day march commemorating the SS organized by neo-Nazis and the Finns Party. Active Club members assaulted leftist counterdemonstrators and stole and burned their flags and signs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010885422.html|title=Tällainen on äärioikeistolainen Active Club Finland|date=11 March 2025|work=Iltasanomat}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bnaibrith.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AnnualMarchesGlorifyingNazism_Z105c.pdf|title=On Europe's Streets:Annual Marches Glorifying Nazism|quote=the main organizers and guests of the event have been drawn from either non-party-affiliated far-right-activists or members of the right-wing populist Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset), its youth organization Finns Party Youth (Perussuomalaiset Nuoret)...The 612-march is a torchlight procession from central Helsinki to the Hietaniemi war cemetery, where participants visit the tomb of World War II-era President Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim and the monument to the Finnish SS-Battalion. There are speeches at both the assembly point and at the cemetery, eulogizing the Battle for Helsinki, depicted by speakers as the occasion "when Germans and Finns marched side by side and liberated the city from the communists."|date=25 March 2023|work=B'nai B'rith, Amadeu Antonio Foundation, Federal Foreign Office}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/427922/neo-nazis-marching-on-the-streets-in-european-cities-despite-eu-bans|title=Neo-Nazis marching on the streets in European cities despite EU bans|quote=Helsinki, Finland, ‘Towards Freedom’ and ‘612 for freedom’ march’ in memory of the Finnish SS-battalion which fought with Nazi Germany|date=28 March 2023|work=Brussels Times}}</ref> Finnish journalists have concluded that Active Club Finland shares members with the fascist Blue-and-Black Movement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=Yle selvitti, mitä Tampereen vappurähinöissä oikeasti tapahtui |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20159301 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref> Finnish Security and Intelligence Service has classified group as extremist that threatens public order and security.<ref>{{cite web | title=Äärioikeistolaisen Active Clubin kerhoja jo ympäri Suomen | date=November 29, 2025 | url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20196921?origin=rss }}</ref>
Active Club Finland took part in the 2025 Independence Day torch march in its own masked black bloc. At the starting point of the march, a group of masked men were observed assaulting a woman of foreign background. The men were wearing similar balaclavas to those used by Active Club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-06 |title=Ylikomisario: Poliisi onnistui – Helsingin mielenosoittajien välille ei tullut yhteenottoja |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20198249 |access-date=2025-12-07 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
In 2026, Active Club Finland took part in a White May Day event organised by the Blue and Black Movement. During the event, members of Active Club Finland assaulted a counter-demonstrator and burned her banner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=STT |date=2026-05-02 |title=Väkivaltaa ja natsitervehdyksiä – Poliisi epäilee sinimustan liikkeen marssijoiden pahoinpidelleen vastamielenosoittajan Tampereella |url=https://www.suomenmaa.fi/uutiset/sinimustien-kulkueeseen-osallistuneiden-epaillaan-pahoinpidelleen-vastamielenosoittajan-tampereella/ |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Suomenmaa.fi |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-01 |title=Sinimusta liike marssi Tampereen keskustassa – video näyttää, miten vastamielenosoittajan päälle käytiin |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20223191 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
===France=== In April 2022, a branch of the Active Club was established in France, initially in Normandy. In 2024, ''Libération'' reported that it had around 20 local chapters<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Macé |first1=Maxime |last2=Plottu |first2=Pierre |date=2024-03-30 |title=Extrême droite : entre suprémacisme et violence, Active Club France bande les muscles |url=https://www.liberation.fr/politique/extreme-droite-entre-supremacisme-et-violence-active-club-france-bande-les-muscles-20240330_MSQWXYQ5LBFBXFTKSW24YRQ7GQ/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref> and ''{{Interlanguage link|StreetPress|lt=StreetPress|fr|StreetPress}}'' reported that it had about a hundred members.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Garnier |first=Christophe-Cécil |date=2024-12-05 |title=Les Active clubs, fight clubs néonazis importés des USA |url=https://www.streetpress.com/sujet/1733400275-active-clubs-fight-neonazis-importes-usa-supremacistes-blancs-rundo-france-europe |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=StreetPress |language=fr}}</ref> Its logo features a knight's helmet on a fleur-de-lis and Celtic cross background. The organization maintains links with other French far-right groups such as Action Française and Groupe Union Défense.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Macé |first1=Maxime |last2=Plottu |first2=Pierre |date=2023-01-31 |title=MMA, totenkopf et militantes sexy… Le violent combo du "fight club" nazi |url=https://www.liberation.fr/politique/mma-totenkopf-et-militantes-sexy-le-violent-combo-du-fight-club-nazi-20230131_A3T653QAENGGFGH4CXBEITQYOA/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref> It brings together {{Interlanguage link|Nationalist-revolutionary movement|lt=nationalist-revolutionaries|fr|Mouvance nationale-révolutionnaire}}, identitarians and royalists.<ref name=":1" /> According to the Counter Extremism Project, France is one of the countries outside North America where these groups are most active.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Beurnez |first=Victoria |date=2023-10-20 |title=Des vidéos de suprémacistes blancs font des millions de vues sur Tiktok, qui essaie de les supprimer |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/tech/tiktok/des-videos-de-supremacistes-blancs-font-des-millions-de-vues-sur-tiktok-qui-essaie-de-les-supprimer_AN-202310200430.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=BFM TV |language=fr}}</ref> The movement's French Telegram channel, created in 2022, has over 11,000 subscribers.<ref name=":2" />
Its members took part in several violent actions, including a racially-motivated raid in Romans-sur-Isère (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), anti-immigration demonstrations in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (Pays de la Loire), and clashes with left-wing activists in Montpellier during the 2024 farmers' protests.<ref name=":1" /> In Saint-Brieuc, in November 2023, three white supremacists planning to create an Active Club attacked an alternative venue and were sentenced to between 12 and 24 months in prison. In Mâcon, in April 2024, Active Club members attacked a person after a concert at an association venue; one was sentenced to 12 months under an electronic bracelet, the other to two years in prison.<ref name=":2" />
===Germany=== As of June 2024, there are at least 12 Active Club groups in Germany. German groups are also affiliated with a neo-Nazi media collective led by Benjamin Moses of the far-right Freie Sachsen party<ref>{{Cite news |last=Winter |first=Steffen |date=2022-01-29 |title=(S+) Freie Sachsen: »Das sächsische Königshaus ist bei der Gestaltung der Zukunft einzubinden« |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/freie-sachsen-das-saechsische-koenigshaus-ist-bei-der-gestaltung-der-zukunft-einzubinden-a-a62f69fa-11a5-4aa3-a814-8ef36ea51c0b |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349}}</ref>, a district council member elected in Bautzen. Active Club Germany also shares members with the Junge Nationalisten (JN), and were represented in their "Kämpfen für Europa" event that had attendants from at least eight countries. The JN were also linked to the attack on Social Democrat politician Matthias Ecke.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cemas.io/en/blog/active-clubs-in-germany/|work=Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy|date=12 August 2025|title=Fraternity, Fitness, and Fascism: Active Clubs in Germany }}</ref> Several clubs in Ostwestfalen were raided by German authorities for illegal possession of firearms in October 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-02 |title=Großeinsatz in NRW: Razzia gegen bewaffnete Neonazi-Bande |trans-title=Major operation in North Rhine-Westphalia: Raid against armed neo-Nazi gang |url=https://www.bild.de/regional/nordrhein-westfalen/grosseinsatz-in-nrw-razzia-gegen-bewaffnete-neonazi-bande-68dc3013e12da109b804f877 |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=Bild |language=de}}</ref>
=== Sweden === Local groups established themselves in Sweden in 2023, under the names Gym XIV and {{Lang|sv|Aktivklubb Sverige}}. The emergence of these groups coincided with the decrease of members in the Nordic Resistance Movement who consist of similar demographics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andersson |first=Annika |date=2025-07-04 |title=Aktivklubbarna växer sig starkare: 'En miljö som föder våld' |trans-title=The Active Clubs grow stronger: "An environment that creates violence" |url=https://www.dn.se/sverige/aktivklubbarna-vaxer-sig-starkare-en-miljo-som-foder-vald/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250704222648/https://www.dn.se/sverige/aktivklubbarna-vaxer-sig-starkare-en-miljo-som-foder-vald/ |archive-date=2025-07-04 |language=sv}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-04 |title=Active Clubs och Aktivklubb Sverige (AKS) |url=https://expo.se/lar-dig-mer/wiki/active-clubs-och-aktivklubb-sverige-aks/ |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Expo |language=sv}}</ref> Active Club members have multiple times been aggressive against participants at Pride events in Sweden. An investigation by Expo identified approximately 80 members of Swedish Active Clubs, of which more than half had a criminal record, some of which included assault, illegal threats or incitement to ethnic or racial hatred.<ref name=":5" />
Aktivklubb Sverige was in the news again in July 2025 when an Expo investigation found that Sweden's Migration Minister Johan Forssell's son was active in the neo-Nazi group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/migrationsminister-johan-forssells-son-hade-koppling-till-hogerextrema-klubbar|work=sverigesradio.se|date=12 August 2025|title=Migrationsminister Johan Forssells son hade koppling till högerextrema klubbar}}</ref>
In October 2025 the prosecutor brought charges against four men aged 20 to 24 in connection with a wave of violence that occurred in Stockholm in August. According to the prosecutor, the acts were motivated by racism, and each of the accused is linked to the activities of the Swedish branch of the Active Club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-22 |title=Äärioikeiston väkivaltainen yö Tukholmassa: 3 hyökkäystä 30 minuutissa |url=https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000011575930.html |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> Oliver Sima Petrell, Olof Pantzar, Casper Englund and Joey Greven received sentences ranging from three years to three years and six months.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polisen |first=Foto |date=2025-11-18 |title=Nazisterna döms för misshandelsnatten |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/Mnxx5M |access-date= |website=Aftonbladet |language=sv}}</ref>
===UK=== In May 2023, Active Club Scotland (ACS) posted its first video. Members of the group have made bomb threats and marched with National Action, a banned neo-Nazi terrorist organisation, and some members have links to Patriotic Alternative. There are also other groups in the UK drawing on elements of the international Active Club movement. ACS often sends messages using the white supremacist slogan 14 Words on its Telegram channel.<ref name=soh>{{cite web |title=STATE OF HATE 2024 Investigation: Fascist Fight Clubs |website=HOPE not hate |date=21 March 2024 |url=https://hopenothate.org.uk/state-of-hate-2024-fight-clubs/ |access-date=5 November 2024}}</ref><!---this ref has more detail on general aspects that could be used elsewhere in the article too--->
Active Club England has at least 100 members and 8 chapters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kachroo |first=Rohit |date=2025-02-11 |title=Training for a 'race war': ITV News unmasks neo-Nazi network Active Club England |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-02-11/itv-news-unmasks-fast-growing-neo-nazi-network-active-club-england |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=ITV News}}</ref> A BBC investigation found that Active Club UK Telegram channels had more than 6,000 subscribers. These channels contained celebration of Hitler's birthday and images of members wearing Waffen-SS t-shirts. They offered guidance on how to avoid police detection during the 2024 riots which followed the Southport stabbings.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=O'Donoghue |first=Daniel |date=2024-10-01 |title=Far-right group using sports to 'build militia', experts warn |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ydnqdq38wo |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Active Club England was able to recruit many new members after the riots.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-14 |title=PM says 'action' needed after ITV News unmasks far-right group preparing for 'race war' |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-02-13/pm-says-action-needed-after-itv-news-unmasks-fascist-far-right-fight-club |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=ITV News}}</ref> One member, Jay Barlow (calling himself "Glenn") had previously been jailed for a knife attack in a supermarket. He joined the group just weeks after being sentenced for other offences, while still under probation and attending a mandatory "thinking skills" programme.<ref name=":4" /> Neil Basu, former head of UK counterterrorism policing, described Active Club England as the successor to National Action, a neo-Nazi group founded in 2013 that was banned in 2016 after celebrating the murder of MP Jo Cox by a white supremacist.<ref name=":4" />
An undercover ITV investigation infiltrated the London branch, and was able to secretly record video of members during their training sessions and group socialisation. Members were filmed discussing how they would acquire weapons, making racist jokes and posing with Nazi salutes (which they refer to as "Romans").<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kachroo |first=Rohit |date=2025-02-12 |title=Inside Britain's fascist fight club: Secret footage shows far-right group preparing for 'race war' |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-02-11/undercover-footage-shows-far-right-group-preparing-for-race-war |access-date=2025-02-12 |work=ITV News}}</ref> The branch included members from Ukraine, Romania, Spain and Italy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-02-12 |title=Active Club England: How ITV News secretly recorded and infiltrated a fascist far-right fight club |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-02-12/how-itv-news-infiltrated-a-fascist-far-right-fight-club |access-date=2025-02-12 |work=ITV News}}</ref> In April, a 28 year old man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kachroo |first=Rohit |date=2025-04-09 |title=Man arrested after ITV News investigation exposed white supremacist network |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-04-09/man-arrested-after-itv-news-investigation-exposed-white-supremacist-network |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=ITV News}}</ref>
===United States===
====California==== thumb|upright|The flag of the Kalifornian Nationalist Youth ''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.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |last1=Winston |first1=Ali |title=Revealed: neo-Nazi active club counts several of US military as members |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/14/revealed-neo-nazi-active-club-us-military-members |work=The Guardian |date=August 14, 2023|quote=Liel has claimed he was once affiliated with the Atomwaffen Division}}</ref>
The Anti-Defamation league reported in August 2025 that members of the Kalifornian Nationalist Youth (KNY), an Active Club-like youth group which has been active since August of 2024, have been regularly distributing white supremacist propaganda and engaging in vandalism in California. KNY describes themselves as "a fraternal organization made up of White youths across the state of California" who are "dedicated to organizing the Youth of our state to defend one another from the likes of antifa and the hooked nose zionists." The group also encourages training in MMA like most other Active Clubs. KNY announced their first regional chapter in Sacramento called Sutter City.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 21, 2025|title=Raised for the Reich: White Supremacists Are Recruiting Teens for On-the-Ground Action|url=https://www.adl.org/resources/article/raised-reich-white-supremacists-are-recruiting-teens-ground-action|website=Anti-Defamation League|access-date=December 7, 2025}}</ref> The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism reported in June of 2025 members of KNY were using hateful imagery in their stickering, including the Black Sun which was popularized by Nazi SS leader Heinrich Himmler.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 12, 2025|title=Neo-Nazi Teenagers Across America Starting Their Own Active Clubs|url=https://globalextremism.org/post/neo-nazi-teenagers/|website=Global Project Against Hate and Extremism|access-date=December 7, 2025}}</ref> Open Measures reported in December 2025 that KNY was one of the largest youth chapters in America along with the Atlantic Youth Club.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 10, 2025|title=White Nationalist 'Youth Clubs' Targeting Young Men Have Expanded Beyond US|url=https://openmeasures.io/international-youth-clubs|website=Open Measures|access-date=January 8, 2026}}</ref>
====Missouri====
The Kansas City, Missouri Active Club is led by a former marine who closely cooperates with the militia Mid Missouri Minutemen. The MMM are an explicitly antisemitic and white nationalist militia that has made posts like "GAS THE K-‑-‑-‑- RACE WAR NOW" on their social media. The MMM and Active Club have had shared events, like firearm drills and rucking with firearms in nature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Missouri Minutemen and white nationalist Active Club learning from each other|url=https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/investigative-update-missouri-minutemen-active-club/ |last=Farley |first=Calum |date=2025-11-06 |website=Southern Poverty Law Center}}</ref>
==== Tennessee ==== In January 2026, two members of the Tennessee Active Club were arrested and charged with conspiracy to traffic illegal firearms by the FBI.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Phil |date=2026-01-28 |title=Neo-Nazis busted as part of plot to create paramilitary team to take out 'high-value targets,' FBI says |url=https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/confronting-hate/neo-nazis-busted-as-part-of-plot-to-create-paramilitary-team-to-take-out-high-value-targets-fbi-says |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF) |language=en}}</ref>
==== Virginia ==== The Wolves of Vinland, a group associated with active clubs, operates a compound in Lynchburg, Virginia.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last1=Craig |first1=Sean |last2=Cope |first2=Wiley |date=2026-04-07 |title=Members of neo-Nazi 'active clubs' join combat events at secretive Virginia compound |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/07/neo-nazi-virginia-combat-event |access-date=2026-04-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The compound acts as a training ground for "riot-style combat events" for various active clubs, the Patriot Front, and the Hammerskins.<ref name=":6" />
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Militant accelerationism Category:Neo-Nazi organizations in the United States Category:White genocide conspiracy theory Category:2021 establishments in the United States Category:Political organizations established in 2021 Category:Mixed martial arts organizations