September 1st 2024.
In recent years, there has been a surge in the establishment of white supremacist groups across the United States and Europe. This growth can be attributed to a new strategy that has been implemented, which aims to create a network of 'Active Clubs' consisting of combat-ready members. While the movement originated in the US, it has now spread to over 100 groups worldwide, all preparing for a potential power struggle known as 'Day X'.
The strategy behind these clubs is to create decentralized, shadow militias that can operate without drawing the attention of law enforcement. To achieve this, they adopt a veneer of legitimacy and avoid displaying obvious Nazi symbols or engaging in threatening behavior in public. These clubs often resemble mixed martial arts clubs, with a focus on combat sports and a sense of 'brotherhood' among members. However, beneath this seemingly harmless facade lies a more sinister agenda.
Many of these clubs are founded by individuals with neo-Nazi or extreme-right ideologies, who use the '3.0 model' approach to attract recruits from mainstream society. This involves promoting a sense of belonging and camaraderie among members, while downplaying their true motives and extremist beliefs. According to the Counter Extremism Project, these clubs are one of the largest and fastest growing violent extreme-right networks, and they are rapidly spreading across the UK.
The government has acknowledged the threat posed by these clubs and is taking steps to counter their growth. However, the senior advisor at the Counter Extremism Project, Alexander Ritzmann, believes that the 'Active Club' strategy was specifically designed to evade law enforcement and prepare for a potential conflict in the future. It could potentially serve as the militia for a political extreme-right party and be used to combat their political enemies.
The rise of these Neo-Nazi Active Clubs can be traced back to the arrests of members of the Rise Above Movement for violence against counter-protestors at a 2017 rally in Virginia. In response, one of the co-founders, Robert Rundo, began setting up 'fitness clubs' in 2020, which essentially function as independent cells, combining combat sports with a white nationalist agenda. Rundo claims that these clubs operate on their own and do not need his guidance anymore.
In the UK, evidence from Telegram shows that there are currently four public 'Active Club' branches, with plans to expand into other regions. Similar clubs have also been established in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The general ethos for members worldwide is to appear and behave like 'regular guys' and avoid discussing politics, Jews, or history. Outwardly, the focus is on brotherhood, fitness, and self-defense.
According to Ritzmann, there are several key principles behind these clubs, including 'make fascism fun', 'white unity at every opportunity', and 'a group of strong white men is a fascist statement in itself'. The clubs draw inspiration from historical role models such as the 'Minutemen militia' of the American Revolution and Adolf Hitler's Sturmabteilung or Storm Trooper paramilitaries.
In England, the national club has shared content and quotes from Oswald Mosely, the leader of the British Union of Fascists, which had a militia known as the Black Shirts. These streetfighters were notorious for targeting and attacking Jews and left-wing groups. In Scotland, members of the 'Active Club' proudly display their logo, which is a Celtic Cross symbol, commonly used by these groups.
The 3.0 model, developed by Robert Rundo, has given these clubs a degree of mainstream appeal, attracting members to take part in activities such as MMA training, banner-drops, stickering, and graffiti tagging. However, Ritzmann believes that these activities are just a stepping stone towards more nefarious activities, such as scouting potential target locations and avoiding law enforcement.
Another objective of the 3.0 model, according to Ritzmann, is to create local and national leadership figures within these clubs. Interestingly, women are not mentioned in this strategy, but they are rapidly forming networks in Canada and France. This poses a concerning threat, and it is crucial for law enforcement and government officials to remain vigilant and take swift action to counter the growth of these white supremacist 'Active Clubs'.
There has been a recent surge in the establishment of white supremacist groups in both the United States and Europe. These groups, known as "Active Clubs," have a strong focus on physical combat readiness and are rapidly expanding across the United Kingdom, as revealed by a recent investigation. This extreme-right movement is part of a larger network of around 100 groups worldwide that are preparing for a potential "Day X" - a power struggle against other groups.
The origin of this movement can be traced back to the United States, where the strategy was first developed. The main idea is to create decentralized, shadow militias that appear legitimate in order to avoid detection by law enforcement. These clubs often resemble mixed martial arts clubs, but with a hidden agenda of promoting extreme-right ideologies. Members are instructed to avoid any threatening behavior or displaying obvious Nazi symbols in public, in order to maintain a veneer of legitimacy.
However, beneath the surface of these clubs' focus on combat sports and "brotherhood" lies a more insidious agenda. Many of these clubs are founded by individuals with neo-Nazi or other extreme-right beliefs, and they actively seek to recruit new members from mainstream society. This approach, known as the "3.0 model," has been identified as the main reason for the rapid growth of these clubs, making them arguably the largest and fastest-growing violent extreme-right network.
The spread of these clubs has not gone unnoticed by government officials, who have acknowledged the need for swift action to counter this dangerous trend. According to the Counter Extremism Project, the Active Club strategy was specifically designed to evade law enforcement and prepare for a potential "Day X" scenario. This could involve serving as the militia for a political extreme-right party and engaging in violence against their perceived enemies. The CEP's senior advisor, Alexander Ritzmann, warns that these groups may resort to violence without any formal manifesto in the meantime.
The rise of Active Clubs can be traced back to the arrests of members of the Rise Above Movement, a U.S. group that was involved in violent attacks against counter-protesters at the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Virginia. In 2020, one of the co-founders of this group, Robert Rundo, began setting up "fitness clubs" - essentially independent cells - that combined combat training with a white nationalist agenda. Rundo himself has been charged with anti-riot offenses and is currently awaiting trial in the U.S.
In the UK, evidence from Telegram, a popular messaging app, shows that the Active Club movement is rapidly expanding across the country. The national club, known as "Active Club England," currently has four public clubs and is continuously expanding to other regions. There are also Active Clubs in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The general ethos for members of these clubs is to blend in with society and not openly discuss their extreme-right beliefs. Outwardly, the focus is on brotherhood, physical fitness, and self-defense. However, according to Ritzmann's research, there are key principles that guide the activities of these clubs, such as making fascism appear "fun," promoting white unity, and portraying a group of strong white men as a statement of fascist ideology. Historical role models for these clubs include the "Minutemen militia" of the American Revolution and Adolf Hitler's Sturmabteilung or Storm Trooper paramilitaries.
In England, the national Active Club has shared content and quotes from Oswald Mosley, a prominent British fascist leader who had a militia known as the Black Shirts. This group was notorious for targeting and attacking Jews and left-wing individuals and organizations. In Scotland, the Active Club has even adopted the Celtic Cross symbol, commonly used by white supremacist groups, as part of their logo.
With the 3.0 model giving these clubs a degree of mainstream appeal, they have been able to attract members through activities such as MMA training, banner-drops, stickering, and graffiti tagging. However, according to Ritzmann, these seemingly low-level activities are just a stepping stone to more nefarious actions such as scouting potential targets and evading law enforcement. He also notes that the 3.0 model does not mention the role of women, but there are fast-growing networks of female members in Canada and France.
In conclusion, the rapid growth of Active Clubs, both in the UK and worldwide, is a cause for concern and requires immediate attention from government officials and law enforcement agencies. The potential for these clubs to carry out acts of violence and spread their extreme-right ideologies is a threat to society and must be addressed before it's too late.
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