extremely Newsletter

New JFK Files Reveal…People Will Blame Jews for Literally ANYTHING

On March 18, the Trump administration released declassified and unredacted records related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Pretty much immediately, antisemitic and anti-Israel influencers announced on social media that they’d reviewed enough of the 63,000 page release to make a determination: Israel and/or Jews were definitely responsible for the JFK assassination. This speed-reading brain trust included Nick Fuentes, Gentile News Network, Sam Parker, Stew Peters and members of the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe.  

The “proof” consisted of cherry-picked screenshots that mentioned Israel, some pulled from the new document trove and others from previous releases. Exactly none of the mentions implicated Jews or Israel in the assassination.  
 

Why It Matters

This wholly unsurprising scapegoating of Jews and Israel reprises longstanding (often antisemitic) conspiracy theories about the murder, some of which focus on Jewish figures like Abraham Zapruder, who captured the assassination on film, and Jack Ruby, who shot and killed Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald on live television.

LLMs? More Like LAMEs, Am I Right?

Yesterday, the ADL Center for Technology and Society (CTS) released a report reviewing anti-Jewish and anti-Israel bias in major large language models (LLMs) - GPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google) and Llama (Meta).
 
CTS, in collaboration with ADL’s Ratings and Assessments Institute (RAI), evaluated responses from four leading AI models, and uncovered concerning patterns of bias, misinformation and selective engagement on issues related to Jewish people, Israel and antisemitic tropes in all four AI models. Despite its misleadingly adorable name, Meta’s Llama model demonstrated the worst anti-Jewish and anti-Israel biases. All four LLMs refused to answer questions about Israel (more than any other topic), which points to ongoing issues with AI’s handling of sensitive political and social topics.
 

Why It Matters

Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence is reshaping how people consume information. As more people rely on AI for research and news, it’s critical that users come to those interactions with open eyes -- and that includes understanding LLMs’ potentially damaging antisemitic and anti-Israel biases.

PSSST: White Supremacists Hate a Lot of People! And They Love Littering About it.

Let’s say you’re asked to be a contestant on the worst game show in history, where all the questions are about white supremacist propaganda. Would you be ready? Could you answer questions like this: What were the most common themes in 2024’s white supremacist propaganda? How about this: Which U.S. state was not targeted with white supremacist propaganda? And then, for the grand prize: Which white supremacist group was responsible for the most propaganda incidents in 2024. (Hint: Faithful readers of this newsletter will already know the answer to this one).  

Happily, you don’t have to live in suspense for long: COE’s annual white supremacist propaganda assessment publishes tomorrow, March 27, at adl.org.

Why It Matters

White supremacists use propaganda to intimidate communities, spread hateful rhetoric and recruit new members. For all these reasons and more, COE has long tracked the groups behind propaganda efforts, as well as the racist, antisemitic narratives they push. If you see white supremacist stickers, banners or fliers, please report them here.

The Terror Threats are Myriad, But So are We. (Actually, We’re Not, it Just Sounded Good. Is This Thing On?)

A Over the past decade (2015-2024) the ADL Center on Extremism (COE) recorded 215 terrorist plots or attacks in the United States. The dataset, conveniently available for your light reading pleasure on the ADL H.E.A.T. Map, includes acts or planned attacks to engage in significant violent criminal activity against people or property to further social, political, religious or ideological goals.

This next part will surprise no one who has spent any time with COE reporting. Approximately 52% (or 111) of the incidents were perpetrated by right-wing extremists including anti-government extremists and white supremacists. Islamist extremists were responsible for 76 incidents (or 35%) while left-wing extremists were responsible for 24 incidents (or 10%). Government entities, elected officials and police or military personnel were most often targeted, but approximately 44% of the plots and attacks were geared towards murdering multiple civilians as quickly as possible. In at least 47 of those cases, the extremists specifically targeted minorities, including Jews (23), Black people (nine), Muslims (seven) and the LGBTQ+ community (six). 
 

Why It Matters

As always, ADL reminds policymakers in government and law enforcement that extremist threats exist across the ideological spectrum – and it’s ineffective to focus on just one type of extremism to the exclusion of others. Successful counter-extremism policy must address a broad array of extremist groups and movements.

Our Invite Got Lost in the Mail: Michigan PAC Hosts Party to Celebrate Violent Extremists

On March 15, roughly 30 people attended the “Patriots Vindicated” event in Gaylord, Michigan. Hosted by the Michigan-based Grand New Party PAC (GNPPAC), the event celebrated the pardons of January 6 defendants and the acquittal of some Wolverine Watchmen militia members who were charged in the 2020 kidnapping plot targeting Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The GNPPAC previously referred to the plot as a “hoax,” which we’re sure is a great comfort to Gov. Whitmer. 

Twin brothers Michael and William Null – militia members acquitted in 2023 of the Whitmer kidnapping plot – spoke to attendees and posed for pictures. Jeremy Rodgers, a pardoned Capitol stormer who was found guilty of assaulting law enforcement, was also on hand. GNPPAC claims that Eric Molitor, another acquitted Wolverine Watchmen member, attended and that Richard “Bigo” Barnett – who infamously propped his feet up on Nancy Pelosi’s desk on Jan 6 – joined remotely.  
 

Why It Matters

Launched in 2023 by Michigan State Rep. Steve Carra, GNPPAC claims to stand against the “radical left’s agenda” and hold “Republicans accountable.” The extremist-supporting PAC maintains close relationships with some lawmakers, possibly paving the way to extremist influence on policy decisions.

Misogynists Wonder if White Supremacy Might Also Be Fun

Online misogynists, led by incels, are taking a break from posting violent rape fantasies and creatively expressing their hatred for women by arguing about race and ethnicity, with some veering straight into white supremacist rhetoric. Hostile exchanges on incel forums (is there any other kind?) are devolving further into personal, race-based attacks against non-white posters and influencers. Among the targets: virulent misogynist Andrew Tate, accused of sex trafficking and rape, and his similarly disgusting brother, Tristan, who some claim are bringing “ghetto” or “hood” qualities into spaces celebrating masculinity.

Why It Matters

Historically, online manosphere communities, especially those geared towards incels, have coalesced around shared grievances against women, feminism and societal changes that “hurt” men. These new findings indicate a wholly unsurprising convergence between misogynistic ideologies and white supremacist narratives (COE first wrote about this phenomenon in 2018). This cross-pollination may enhance forum visitors’ vulnerability to further extremist radicalization – capitalizing on their hatred of women and amplifying that vitriol to include Black people, Jews and Muslims.

“She Doesn’t Even Go Here:” White Supremacists Crash College Course, Dox Students

A San Francisco State University course had some unwelcome visitors on March 5, when members of the white supremacist NorCal Active Club infiltrated a student-led class on Karl Marx. The white supremacists (whose longstanding disinterest in books, history and education has been exhaustively documented in this newsletter) accused the students of running a “communist education course.” And because there’s no point in doing something really dumb if you don’t show it off online, the group wasted no time posting images of the class and a video of students. Later, the neo-Nazi accelerationist group Injekt Division doxxed the class’s student teacher and two students. And while NorCal Active Club has not publicly acknowledged the doxxing, Injekt Division credited them for the information, posting, “Credit to NorCal Active Club for breaking the story.”

Why It Matters

This incident reflects a notable crossover between the Active Club network and Injekt Division, and a willingness to putting aside differences to work together against their shared (and mostly imaginary) bogeymen: communists and “leftists.” Historically, the Active Club network has avoided explicitly hateful public displays, hoping to appeal to a more mainstream crowd, while accelerationist groups like Injekt have never been interested in watering down their vitriol.

Gamer’s Misguided Tribute to Bibas Family Raises Existential Questions for Gaming Platforms

Thanks to reporting that users were finding hateful symbols in the popular life simulation video game The Sims 4, our researchers located a range of terrible items available in The Sims 4 “gallery” – where creators share characters and homes they’ve designed. The findings included Hitler characters, hateful slogans and other objectionable content. They also included a playable version of the Bibas family – the mother, father and two small children who became heartbreaking symbols of the depravity of Hamas’s October 7 terror attack. Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, aged four years and nine months, respectively, when they were taken hostage, were murdered in captivity.

Why It Matters

While it may have been meant as a tribute to the family, this kind of emotionally charged, directly biographical content raises important questions about content moderation in online gaming: do memorials to terror victims belong on gaming platforms? And because this is online gaming, how do companies guard against the inevitable wave of abuse and harm?

Anti-Zionist Groups Now Offended by Interfaith Celebrations of (Checks Notes) Muslim Holidays

This month, the anti-Israel group Texas for Palestine posted on social media about “faith-washing," criticizing Muslim groups for hosting interfaith Iftar events during Ramadan with Jews and/or Zionists, specifically naming ADL, AJC, The Hartman Institute, Yossi Klein Halevi and JCRC. The posts also criticize Muslim organizations for Holocaust educational tours, with the airtight argument, “‘Educational’ trips to WWII sites often end up rationalizing Zionism.” Meanwhile, antisemitic organization Al-Awda organized a protest against a March 9 interfaith Iftar – which marks the end of the daily Ramadan fast -- hosted by the mayor of Houston, TX. Other anti-Israel groups have announced additional interfaith Iftar boycotts or protests.

Why It Matters

Every year during Ramadan, extreme anti-Zionists groups, such as American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Madison for Palestine and SUPER UW (an SJP affiliate at University of Washington), encourage Muslim groups not to “normalize” Zionists at faith-based events. These groups and individuals use the term “faith-washing” as a cover to exclude Zionists and Jewish people from events.

COE: Three Years of Declining Extremist-Related Murders! 2025: Not So Fast

The ADL Center on Extremism (COE) recently released its 10th annual report on Murder and Extremism in the United States, which tallies and analyzes deadly incidents from 2024 involving domestic extremists of all types. The report details 13 extremist-related murders in 2024, down considerably from the 20 people killed in 2023 and the 28 in 2022. All 13 of the murders were committed by far-right extremists: eight by white supremacists and five by anti-government extremists (including two murders of police officers). This relatively cheerful trendline will not hold; COE has already documented 16 extremist-related murders in 2025, including 14 in the Islamist extremist attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.  

Why It Matters

To combat extremist violence and crime effectively, policymakers need to know where the violence is coming from. For years, reliable data was hard to come by, but ADL’s comprehensive efforts to track extremist-related murders (which began in 2008 and also include older incidents dating back to 1970) have proven key in identifying extremism trends in the U.S., including the recent rise in both Islamist-related and sovereign citizen-related violence.  

Crypto, Making Friends in all the Wrong Places, Attracts Extremists and Antisemites

On February 11, 2025, Proud Boy Ethan Nordean, an insurrectionist who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy (and was later pardoned), decided to become even more of a blight on society, launching an X account and website for a new cryptocurrency token called Proud Coin, otherwise known as “the official Proud Boys coin.” Nordean and other Proud Boys, including former National Chairman Enrique Tarrio, apparently hope the token will provide a financial foundation for the group in its post-pardon era.

Why It Matters

Perhaps sensing its potential to be awful for the world, extremists and antisemites were early adopters of blockchain technology. More organized investment schemes to fund specific extremist activity are less common, although Ye (formerly Kanye West), who has promoted antisemitic and pro-Nazi content via his X account since October 2022, also created a Yeezy-branded token to solicit investors. Historically, extremists have stuck to conventional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum or Monero to solicit donations, engage in commerce or profit from market volatility. The use of token investment schemes is a concerning development and a potential new frontier for extremist financing.  

Barnard: Ground Zero for Anti-Israel Protests and Pro-Terror Rhetoric

On February 26, 2025, nearly 100 anti-Israel students at Barnard College and Columbia University forced their way into a campus building and occupied it for six hours. According to university officials and local law enforcement, protesters assaulted a Barnard employee who was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. During the sit-in, protesters chanted, “Intifada!” and graffitied the building with “WE WILL BURN IT ALL DOWN.” The sit-in was a response to the expulsion of two Barnard students for their role in disrupting a “History of Modern Israel” class at Columbia earlier in the semester, when protestors entered a classroom, banged on drums, chanted “free Palestine” and distributed posters to students that read “CRUSH ZIONISM” with the image of a boot over the Star of David.  

Why It Matters

For the duration of the Israel-Hamas war, anti-Israel student activists nationwide have engaged in building takeovers as an escalatory action to pressure universities to divest from Israel. A handful of building occupations in the fall of 2023 ramped up in 2024 as part of the anti-Israel encampment trend. Despite the updated time, manner and place policies that were implemented at many schools last summer to address antisemitic and disruptive activities, similar incidents have continued during the current 2024–25 school year, including at Sarah Lawrence College, the University of Minnesota and Swarthmore College.

Patriot Front Confirms No One in Group Has Even Basic Grasp of U.S. History

On Saturday, February 22, very loud white supremacist group Patriot Front held simultaneous anti-immigration demonstrations across the U.S. – a nation violently “settled” by European immigrants just over 400 years ago – including Boston, Des Moines, Providence, Houston and Manchester, NH. Each demonstration included 20 to 30 Patriot Front members – at least some of whom are likely the descendants of the Europeans who brought pestilence and death to Native Americans – unironically protesting “unassimilable foreigners” invading America. 

Because they are allergic to history, Patriot Front believes that only Americans of European ancestry have the right to live in the U.S., and that “membership within the American nation is inherited through blood, not ink.”

Why It Matters

These larger and more coordinated demonstrations are an outgrowth of Patriot Front’s growing fixation on non-white immigration to the U.S. In 2024, COE tracked at least 12 white supremacist events organized by Patriot Front and animated by anti-immigrant rhetoric; COE has already tracked seven such events in 2025. The group also loves sharing propaganda with hilariously un-self-aware slogans, including, “Protect Our Border” and “Deport Them All.”

Whose Nickels Paid for Jackson Hinkle’s Interview with Hamas?

On February 17, far-right commentator and influencer Jackson Hinkle, who has spent the 18 months since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks in Israel spouting virulent anti-Zionist and antisemitic rhetoric, traveled to Doha, Qatar, to interview Hamas leader Basem Naim. Hinkle lavished Naim and Hamas with praise, and ended the interview by saying, “You have my full support and the support of many Americans, the tide is shifting, and we just love you guys.” 

After traveling to Lebanon for the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hinkle shared a photo of himself at a shrine for Nasrallah and on the southern border of Lebanon holding a Hezbollah flag.

Why It Matters

Hinkle tends to conduct his interviews remotely. Following his recent travels, internet commentators wondered if Hinkle had received foreign money for his trips to Doha and Lebanon – and if his activities broke any U.S. anti-terrorism laws.   

New Venue! New Speaker! Same Old Nation of Islam

If you thought a new location and a new headliner signaled a change of heart for the virulently antisemitic Nation of Islam, prepare for disappointment. Also, in the future, please try not to be so gullible.

The Nation of Islam’s (NOI) held its annual Saviours’ Day conference over the last weekend in February at NOI’s Mosque Maryam headquarters in Chicago (versus its usual, larger offsite venue). Headlined by NOI Student National Assistant Minister Ishmael Mohammed (standing in for longtime NOI leader Louis Farrakhan) the event hewed closely to the NOI’s Greatest Hits of Hate, repeating antisemitic and conspiratorial talking points from Farrakhan’s 2024 Saviours’ Day address.  Among them, the accusation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had advance knowledge of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, and allowed it to happen to create “pretext” for the establishment of “Greater Israel.”

Why It Matters

It’s extremely unusual for Farrakhan to miss Saviours’ Day. Ishmael Muhammad reassured followers that Farrakhan, 91, is alive and well, but did acknowledge a future when he is no longer at the helm, saying, “Even if [Farrakhan’s] not here with us, we will continue to stand, we will continue to work the work of our Lord and Saviour.”

Ye Posts, Deletes More Antisemitism on X, But We Have the Receipts

Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, returned from his self-imposed X exile, but still couldn’t resist being antisemitic before deleting the posts and deactivating his account again. On February 17, in series of rambling, all caps posts, Ye claimed he was “Jew proof,” and said he’d been planning the swastika T-shirt (which was posted on his fashion brand Yeezy’s website after a very odd and confusing Super Bowl ad) for eight years. Like a weird, antisemitic version of wash, rinse, repeat – Ye has been taking a post, delete, deactivate approach to his X account in recent days (as of this writing, his account is back up). This first started after the Super Bowl: leading up to the game, he went on another antisemitic tirade, and after his Yeezy ad aired, he deactivated his account. Shopify has since removed Yeezy’s website, and Ye has been let go by his talent agency, but clearly, that’s not stopping him.

Why It Matters

Obviously, when someone with more X followers than there are Jews on the planet uses their platform to push antisemitism, things go south fast. Case in point: the last time Ye went off on Jews, we tracked at least 30 related antisemitic incidents. Actions have consequences.

Yes, Six Million Jews Actually Died in the Holocaust. No, We Will Not Argue This.

When a group denies that women were raped and killed on 10/7, is it any surprise that they also deny the Holocaust? On February 12,  Palestinian Assembly for Liberation (PAL)-Awda, a chapter of Al-Awda that organizes with the likeminded anti-Zionist group Palestinian Assembly for Liberation, co-authored an Instagram slideshow with another account called ZionismIsColonialism. The slideshow, titled “Manufacturing a Massacre: The History of Six Million, Palestine Or Annihilation,” suggested that the "six million Jewish victims" figure from the Holocaust was part of a planned and nefarious Zionist plot. The slideshow featured a series of news articles from 1900-1941, showing the “six million Jews” figure was recorded before the Holocaust. Holocaust deniers have used this to promote a false narrative to say the number was invented by Jews and that the narrative around the death tolls was planned.

Why It Matters

Al-Awda has a history of promoting antisemitic tropes, as well as expressions of support for terror organizations like Hamas, but its public flirtation with Holocaust denial signifies another low. If Holocaust denial is your main point, you don’t actually have a point. 

Connecticut Gets Unwanted Delivery: White Supremacists

The Atlantic Nationalist Club (ANC or ANC-131) held its very first demonstration in Connecticut on February 9, outside an antifascist bookstore. This white supremacist group brought the usual mix of Hitler salutes and general nuisance, including chanting the group name as well as “Commie scum, off our streets.” According to video taken at the scene, at least two ANC members got into a fistfight with another, unidentified person, but no one was arrested. Not to be confused with the Nationalist Social Club (NSC-131), ANC is ramping up its in-person activity, propaganda, and demonstrations. Operating in the area between Pennsylvania and Connecticut, this was ANC's first public demonstration in Connecticut, though it has held multiple martial arts training events there and recently added it to their "claimed" territory. 

Why It Matters

The increased activity and addition of "131" to ANC's name signals a potential power grab, as it appears to be challenging NSC-131's presence in the region—especially as NSC-131's activity has sharply declined in recent months. When extremist groups compete for attention, it’s not just a contest of who’s more annoying—it’s the community that ends up losing.

Oh, Canada! (Thank You for Arresting this Violent Extremist)

In September 2024, the ADL Center on Extremism’s Threat Monitoring Unit (TMU) began tracking "@jewsarefilth25," the super classy X handle making threats against the Jewish community, law enforcement and military personnel. Investigators determined the poster was located in Canada and made sure he was reported to authorities. He was arrested days later and has been charged with advocating genocide and willful promotion of hatred and antisemitism.

Why It Matters

The information COE provided to law enforcement identified and disrupted a potential threat – and gave authorities the necessary evidence to pursue charges for the promotion of antisemitism and hatred. The COE uses an ever-expanding arsenal of tools to uncover threats against the Jewish community across the globe – from New Zealand to Brazil.

Making Great Life Choices: Samidoun Activist Appears on Communist Party-Linked Chinese Outlet

On February 3, Chinese media outlet Fengshows featured an interview with Jaldia Abubakra, who’s an activist with Spain’s chapter of Samidoun, an extreme anti-Zionist organization that serves as a fundraising arm for the U.S. designated terror group The Popular Front for The Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Fengshows is an affiliate of Phoenix TV, a television network with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to pro-democracy non-profit Freedom House. But the fun doesn’t stop there: Abubakra is also a member of the Executive Committee of Masar Badil (also known as the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement), an extreme anti-Zionist international organization that shares leadership with Samidoun and has hosted webinars with members of other U.S.-designated terror organizations, including Hamas and the Houthis.

Why It Matters

While Masar Badil members have racked up media appearances in North America, Europe and Latin America, Abubakra’s appearance on a Chinese station marks a new avenue for sharing Samidoun and Masar Badil’s extreme anti-Zionist content. The upside for the People’s Republic of China (PRC): platforming individuals linked to U.S.-sanctioned organizations may have the added benefit of strengthening the PRC’s already cozy relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Texas Militia Mad at People Who Care About Other Humans

On February 8, the Houston-based This Is Texas Freedom Force (TITFF) militia held an armed demonstration to counter an anti-deportation protest at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. In a post on X, TITFF shared pictures of at least 19 participants, including six people carrying AR-style rifles. The group claims that the Alamo Militia, Proud Boys and Three Percenters were on-site as a show of force to “protect” the Alamo from “radical left-wing protesters,” who had already been prevented (by law enforcement) from entering the site.

Why It Matters

Prior to the demonstration, TITFF claimed on X that they were in contact with law enforcement and ICE Director Tom Homan. If true, this is concerning, as it shows TITFF is making inroads with local and federal law enforcement, possibly in hopes of legitimizing their activity. Militia members, including TITFF’s, often claim to be acting in the public interest even as they commit violence and engage in criminal activity; in 2020, TITFF notably clashed with protesters who were peacefully marching during the George Floyd protests, and at least one member took part in the January 6 insurrection.

I Mean, Sure, Why Not: Introducing “Shmerg,” the New TikTok Dog Whistle

Because the first five weeks of 2025 haven’t been terrible enough, there’s a new (and extremely online) dog whistle to worry about. “Shmerg” (yes, that’s right) has emerged as a catch-all for racism, antisemitism and hate, thanks to the antisemitic TikToker “Postman,” who wrote they hope the term will represent “everything bad, everything hated…racism, antisemitism, every conspiracy theory…eventually this will be the most hateful word if we all band together.” Some are using “shmerg” to refer to Jews or other marginalized groups, and to promote antisemitic or racist tropes. That said, if someone shmergs at you, offer them a Kleenex and remember that in some cases, the word has been used in a positive way, so who even knows anymore. If you have a pounding headache after reading this, please know you’re not alone.

Why It Matters

Postman’s TikTok account was suspended, but not before fellow idiots took up the “shmerg” cause and paired it with extremist content. And while tracking hashtags on TikTok is an inexact science, it’s clear that one post using the term chalked up more than 40,000 likes. Bottom line: it’s usually bad news when new “edgy” memes and terms pop up – giving posters a pass to walk the line between hateful (which is theoretically subject to moderation) and trolling (which is not).

Bigots See D.C. Plane Crash as Opportunity to Spread Racist, Sexist Hate

On January 29, a Black Hawk helicopter crashed into an American Airlines jet near Washington, D.C., killing all passengers and crew on board both aircraft. An investigation into the crash is underway, and the cause remains unknown.

Prominent public figures groundlessly claimed that “diversity hires” were to blame. On social media, viral posts – chock full of misogynistic, racist and anti-trans rhetoric – alleged that one of the pilots flying the Black Hawk helicopter was a transgender woman named Jo Ellis. This forced Ellis, a transgender soldier and pilot who is still very much alive, to address the rumors on Facebook.

Why It Matters

Bigots, extremists and conspiracy theorists believe efforts to increase diversity in America’s workforce will have harmful – even fatal – consequences, and they will use any tragedy to spread their continually disproven bile.

Torn Between Antisemitism and Misogyny, Some Ask, “Why Not Both?”

Israel and Hamas’s ceasefire agreement, which included the release of 33 hostages who were brutally kidnapped into Gaza during the October 7 terror attacks, has prompted a torrent of misogyny targeting returning female hostages. Online commentators – from “academic” Susan Abulhawa, activist Abbas Hamideh, Christian nationalist and antisemite Stew Peters and popular “OSINT” accounts like Hezbollah sympathizer X user War Monitor – have suggested the women are lying about the abuse and terror they experienced, theorizing that they were in love with their captors and generally arguing that the hostages were treated well, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary.

Why It Matters

This depressing discourse emerged immediately after the October 7 attacks, with some anti-Israel activists denying the rape and sexual assault that took place that day. This is part of a broader trend of atrocities denial, which – in the face of video evidence and witness testimony – diminishes Hamas’s role in the attacks and tars Israelis, especially Israeli women, as liars and untrustworthy. These attitudes result in horrible on the ground incidents, with “activists” targeting 10/7 memorial events and survivors.

Garland claims that the interaction was a spur-of-the-moment prank, but law enforcement reports evidence that indicates he’d planned the encounter. Following the incident, Garland wrote in GDL’s Telegram channel, “I wore the rabbi costume and went into their jew [sic] building harassing them.” He is the third GDL associate to be arrested in Tennessee in the last seven months. 

Why it Matters

A COE analysis of Garland’s activity found that this was not his first antisemitic rodeo; earlier in January 2025, he wore the same rabbi costume at the Nashville Holocaust Memorial, where he made antisemitic comments before removing stones placed there to honor victims.  Garland fits right in with GDL, which is increasingly engaged in aggressive harassment, particularly targeting the Jewish community. In July 2024, GDL affiliates participated in one of the network’s “Name the Nose Tour” in the greater Nashville area, distributing propaganda and engaging in antisemitic stunts. During this tour, Canadian GDL associate Ryan McCann was arrested for allegedly assaulting a local bartender with a flagpole. 

Klan Reverts to Tired Propaganda Playbook

The Ku Klux Klan took advantage of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend to spread its noxious message across communities in Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia, following a years-long racist tradition. Six of the incidents were courtesy of the Trinity White Knights of the KKK, a small, Kentucky-based Klan group, while the Sacred White Knights of the KKK, an offshoot of the Loyal White Knights of the KKK, snuck in for one incident.

Why it Matters

While the organized Klan movement has been in decline for at least a decade, individual groups like the Trinity White Knights were a bit more active in 2024, when the Center on Extremism recorded 18 incidents of Klan propaganda distribution. It’s not an impressive number when compared with tallies from active white supremacist groups like Patriot Front or Goyim Defense League, but it’s a significant uptick for a seriously diminished movement. Klan propaganda distributions are largely publicity stunts tied to an event or holiday – an effort to scare communities and attract local news coverage.

New Issue of SJP Magazine: Come for the Cringe Poetry, Stay for the Support for Terror

A new issue of the National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) magazine The Written Resistance features support for terror against Israel and extreme vilification of Zionism. One poem, “Liberation is Our Destination,” lauds "our resistance fighters" and begins with the passage: "How dare you condemn a prisoners [sic] bullets or the revolutionary missiles handmade with love and fire." It adds, "For us to exist, Zionism must not." Separately, a photo depicts student activists reading a mock edition of The New York Times with the text, "victory to the resistance" and "revolution until victory" next to images from the October 7 Hamas-led terror attack.

Why it Matters

This issue of The Written Resistance is further evidence that, despite much scrutiny and some punitive actions against the group, SJP remains committed to its promotion of terror targeting Israel and general denigration of Zionism. SJP's promotion of violent rhetoric reflects the segments of the anti-Israel movement that consider all forms of violent "resistance" against Israel as justifiable elements of an anti-colonial struggle.  

Proud Boys March in D.C. While Other Proud Boys Mock Them Online

On January 20, several dozen Proud Boys marched near the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C., ahead of the presidential inauguration. This was the largest Proud Boys gathering since the January 6 insurrection, showing up in the group’s distinctive black and yellow apparel. Marchers carried a banner and chanted, “Fuck antifa,” among other timely and germane epithets. A man who identified himself as the “president of the Kentucky chapter” said they were there to “enjoy the time with the MAGA crowd and raise awareness for the political prisoners being held hostage in D.C. gulags,” referencing January 6 insurrectionists. Several Proud Boys engaged in verbal altercations with counter-protesters, but no acts of physical violence were reported.

As the march went on, the official national Proud Boys USA Telegram channel ridiculed participants as “larping [live action roleplaying] faggots,” and “retards” engaging in “fucking fed behavior.”

Why It Matters

If the D.C. demonstration and a recent, dramatic uptick in messaging in Proud Boys social media spaces are any indication, the group may be feeling emboldened by the new administration. The Proud Boys responded to insurrection convictions by decentralizing their organization, allowing local chapters to act in their own best interest. Monday’s marching vs. online jeering factions underscores this strategy’s inherent challenges.

Sing it With Us (On TikTok): “Everything Old is New Again…”

As the future of TikTok hangs in the balance, extremists and conspiracy theorists across the political spectrum are revisiting a conspiracy theory that initially surfaced in April 2024, when the bill forcing the sale of the platform first passed: that Israel, Zionists or Jews generally are secretly trying to ban TikTok ban to censor anti-Israel voices on the platform. Prominent users on X and Bluesky argued that Zionists “demanded” the ban, which is a form of “Israeli censorship” and that Jewish influence in the tech industry is to blame.

Even Chinese social media platform RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, can’t escape the long arm of antisemitic fear-mongering, with new users expressing fears that RedNote is also controlled by Zionists or Jews. This false narrative stems primarily from the fact that one of RedNote's shareholders is DST Global, a venture capital firm founded by Israeli citizen Yuri Milner.

Why It Matters

Because antisemites and anti-Israel bigots are nothing if not consistent, they are just slapping some new paint on an old conspiracy theory and blaming Israel and the Jews (yet again) for the latest inconvenience/headline that annoys them. In March 2024, when talk of a ban first surfaced in the mainstream press, the ADL Center on Extremism published a piece about similar claims. (In other words: it’s time to get some new material, guys).

Anti-Zionist Activists Back on Their Terrorist-Celebrating Nonsense

Khalida Jarrar, who was released as part of the January hostage deal between Hamas and Israel, is a member and leader of the terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which played a role in the Hamas-led 10/7 massacre in southern Israel. That affiliation did not stop some pro-Palestinian activists from celebrating her release; the Palestinian Feminist Collective hailed Jarrar as "a feminist leader and compass for our liberation movement, while the U.S. Palestinian Community Network called her a "revolutionary intellectual." National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), meanwhile, tweeted that her release "show[s] us that no chain is unbreakable." PFLP charity arm Samidoun was similarly thrilled.

Why It Matters

This uncritical veneration of Jarrar is (more) evidence that much of the U.S. anti-Israel movement is perfectly happy to promote a member of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, especially when activists are largely aligned with that organization. And the left-wing, secular and socialist PFLP (vs. the Islamist Hamas) enjoys enormous popularity among American anti-Israel circles.

Listen Carefully; It’s the World’s Tiniest Violin, Playing for Patriot Front

White supremacist group Patriot Front, like the rest of America, is having a tough start to 2025. On January 13, a federal judge ordered the group and its Texas-based leader, Thomas Rousseau, to pay more than $2.7 million in damages to Charles M. Murrell III, a Black musician who was attacked by several Patriot Front members during a July 2022 flash demonstration in Boston, MA.

But wait, there’s more! Patriot Front is also the subject of a mounting right-wing conspiracy alleging the group is an FBI plot run primarily by federal operatives to ensnare and discredit the right. COE has been tracking this so-called “Fed Front” conspiracy since late 2021, which has been advanced by well-known extremists like conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

Why It Matters

This is just the latest setback for Patriot Front, which has been embroiled in a range of criminal cases involving the group, its members and Rousseau, and these new punitive damages could bankrupt the organization; the group relies on members buying stickers, stencils and other mandatory propaganda materials to fund its operations. In 2024, COE tracked more than 120 Patriot Front-organized events, but between the group’s financial troubles and the “Fed Front” narrative, that level of activity may be a thing of the past.

Behind Enemy Lines Threatens Return to DePaul, Because Nothing Says “Academic Discourse” Like Violent Threats

On January 7, Behind Enemy Lines (BEL) – a Chicago-based far-left, anti-Israel, anti-imperialist and self-described anarchist group focused currently on “militant” opposition to Israel and U.S. support for Israel – vowed on Instagram to return to DePaul University’s campus and to “get fucking dangerous.” The group was banned from campus in November 2024 for distributing propaganda targeting Max Long, a Jewish student who served in the Israeli military and was violently assaulted, along with another Jewish student, by masked suspects on November 6, 2024. Following the assault, BEL posted on Instagram that “someone finally gave this student a tiny bit of the justice that genociders [sic] and mass killers deserve, DePaul and other Chicago institutions are crying crocodile tears over safety and supposed antisemitism.”

Why It Matters

The new post from BEL suggests that the group may be gearing up for more direct confrontation with people it considers “Zionists.” BEL has demonstrated a capacity for physical confrontations; during the 2024 Democratic National Convention, their protest outside of the Israeli Consulate devolved into clashes with police and led to dozens of arrests. BEL’s confrontational approach is reflective of the increasing numbers of anti-Israel groups who are willing to engage in direct action.

Hot Tip: If You Don’t Want the Designation, Don’t Make “Terror” Part of Your Literal Name

On January 13, the U.S. Department of State designated the Terrorgram Collective and three of its leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The very solid reasoning: Terrorgram promotes violent white supremacy, calls for attacks on enemies, glorifies successful attacks and provides instructions on how to carry out an attack, including on critical infrastructure and government officials. The designation comes after the September 2024 arrests of Matthew Allison and Dallas Humber – two alleged U.S.-based leaders of the Terrorgram Collective – which was followed by a lull in activity from Terrorgram affiliated individuals and groups.

Why It Matters

While Allison and Humber’s arrests sliced the heads off the hydra, this designation may be the cleansing fire that prevents them from growing back. It could also establish a broader interpretation of “material support,” which would allow authorities to pursue action against groups and individuals that share or propagate Terrorgram-branded materials.

Extremists Not Sure How to Feel About Meta’s New Extremism-Friendly Posture

On January 7, 2025, Meta announced plans to end their “third party fact-checking program” in favor of a model similar to X’s “Community Notes,” promising fewer restrictions on content outside serious platform violations or illegal activity.

Extremists are staring at Meta’s offering with the guarded joy of a toddler who is 76 percent sure you don’t really have his nose: In a Proud Boys Telegram channel, posters expressed doubt that Meta’s CEO would make the platforms more extremist-friendly. One popular anti-Zionist influencer wondered via X if Zuckerberg would end the “Zionist censorship complex” on the platforms. Meanwhile, white supremacists smelled blood in the water, suggesting on Telegram that “nationalists” should leverage these changes “to push for mass deportations and race-based immigration policies.” On X and Telegram, white supremacist, Unite the Right organizer and former Proud Boy Jason Kessler waxed nostalgic, writing, “Facebook used to be a major networking tool for us years ago.”

Why It Matters

When mainstream social media platforms – which typically have more reach than fringe counterparts – loosen their content moderation policies, extremists, conspiracy theorists and bigots are often emboldened to test the limits of these changes. Meta’s announcement, in other words, may pave the way for dramatically worse hate speech and harassment across its platforms.

Man Rents Cybertruck, Which Will Be Remembered as The Second Worst Decision of His Life

Terrible news abounded in the first days of 2025. On January 1, 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty Green Beret, exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, injuring seven people. Livelsberger, who may have used ChatGPT to plan his attack, reportedly shot himself before the explosion.  

Officials are still investigating Livelsberger’s potential motive, but have found his conspiratorial letters calling for veterans and militias to mobilize in D.C. to get Democrats “out of…government and military by any means necessary.” He touts a “hard reset” as the only thing that will stop America’s imminent collapse, rails against processed foods and diversity initiatives and urges people to support Donald Trump, Elon Musk and “Kennedy” (presumably RFK Jr.). As of January 7, investigators are vetting additional documents, including a six-page manifesto and an email about drones, government surveillance and America's involvement in Afghanistan.

Why It Matters

There’s no evidence at this point that Livelsberger was himself an extremist, but his calls to action, inflammatory rhetoric, disillusionment with the government and focus on societal collapse eerily echo beliefs often shared by conspiratorial and extremist actors – including those who have committed heinous acts of violence.

Sovereigns Pause Frivolous Lawsuits Long Enough to Boost Police-Extremist Shootouts Numbers in 2024

In 2024, ADL tracked 13 incidents in which shots were fired between police and extremists, marking the fourth highest total since COE began tracking these cases in 2009. As has been the case in all extremism measures in the ADL’s history, right-wing extremists dominated the tally. Eight of the 13 incidents involved anti-government extremists, seven of whom were sovereign citizens. Four involved white supremacists, three of whom were members of white supremacist prison gangs. And one attack was perpetrated by an Islamist extremist motivated by antisemitism. This year’s shootouts were particularly dangerous for the police officers: Two were killed and 11 were wounded.

Why It Matters

In most ways, the 2024 numbers follow the same pattern we’ve seen for 16 years (between 2009 and 2024 right-wing extremists were responsible for the vast majority of the 159 tracked incidents). But the latest stats are anomalous in one important way: The number of sovereign citizen-related shootouts in 2024 is remarkably high, well above the annual average of two and the previous annual high of three.

This is an unwelcome indicator that the sovereign citizen movement is very active – and growing. Sovereigns, known in part for their mind-numbingly wordy and inane “legal” arguments as well as their criminal activity, have grown their movement in recent years thanks to interest from anti-vaxxers, QAnon adherents and MAGA supporters. The movement has also spread extensively in jails and prisons around the country.

Madison School Shooter Appears to Have Been Invited into Private Chat Created to “Watch” Turkish Neo-Nazi Stabbing Attack

As Madison, Wisconsin, reels from America’s 112^th deadly school shooting of 2024, Center on Extremism researchers are combing through social media profiles that appear to belong to shooter Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, a 15-year-old girl who committed suicide at the scene. Among our findings: The shooter appears to have been invited into and participated in a very sparsely populated Telegram chat in which Arda Küçükyetim, the Turkish neo-Nazi who stabbed five people outside a Turkish mosque on August 12, 2024, appeared to have posted his own racist “manifesto” just prior to his attack. A self-described “friend” of Küçükyetim shared a live link of the attack, and chat participants (including, we believe, the Madison shooter) commented on the “success” of the stabbing spree.

COE researchers have also reviewed a TikTok account (which we believe belonged to the shooter) that posted a range of very generic white supremacist and antisemitic memes (including Nazi images and racist “statistics”) with a bio including the phrase “Totally normal day” – wording often used by racist or white supremacist users as a code for "TND," or "total n***** death." According to reports, a post from an “X” account (again, believed to belong to the shooter) from the day of the attack includes a photo of a person giving the “okay” hand gesture, which is used in some extremist circles as a way to troll viewers.

Social media accounts believed to belong to the shooter included many posts expressing admiration for past school shooters and mass attackers, as well as an unusual interest in violence of all kinds.

Immediately after the shooting, a manifesto purportedly authored by Rupnow began circulating online. While police have acknowledged the existence of the document, they have not verified its authenticity or any connection to the shooter. The manifesto included expressions of reverence for mass shooters, including the perpetrator of the El Paso Walmart massacre, as well as the Turkish neo-Nazi.

Why It Matters

The convergence of glorified violence – including school shooters and mass killers – and extremist content is not uncommon in online spaces. As more information about this tragic attack emerges, we may gain a clearer understanding of the extent to which extremist ideology influenced the assailant.

Assad Ouster Reignites (Everyone Act Surprised) Antisemitic Conspiracy Theory

In the wake of the Assad regime’s sudden fall in Syria and the subsequent Israeli military strikes in the region, antisemites and anti-Zionists are resurrecting an old favorite: the “Greater Israel” conspiracy theory, which alleges that Israel is covertly taking over large swaths of the Middle East. Promoted for years by anti-Israel activists, antisemitic figures like Louis Farrakhan and anti-Zionist conspiracy theorists, the concept is finding new fans. On December 8, far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones posted on X that “greater Israel is expanding,” attracting more than four million views. Antisemitic influencer Stew Peters’ recent film Occupied argues that Israel created Hamas to justify the Greater Israel project.

Why It Matters

The Greater Israel conspiracy theory is not new, but a fresh crop of believers is promoting it in the post-October 7 landscape, capitalizing on the attack and Israel’s war with Hamas to advance a blatantly antisemitic narrative. Some anti-Zionist groups, meanwhile, are using Greater Israel rhetoric to advertise anti-Israel rallies.

The Season of “Yellowstone” Literally No One Asked For

In a series of recent posts, the Yellowstone Militia, a Billings, Montana, based Three Percenter militia group, announced the creation of new chapters in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Gillette, Wyoming. Tim Westervelt, commander of the Yellowstone Militia, claims the group now has more than 300 members in 20 chapters, an increase from the 16 chapters he cited in July. In October, members of the militia met with Custer County, Wyoming, commissioners to introduce their “mission” and position themselves as a volunteer “nonprofit organization” hoping to serve the community and help first responders

Why It Matters

This expansion, a first for the Yellowstone Militia, reveals the group’s strategy of adding territory by absorbing smaller militias – in this case, the Three Percenter Wyoming Guardians. Their (transparent) efforts to ingratiate themselves with local officials and law enforcement is pretty typical of militias: presenting their intent as totally benign, even benevolent, when in reality their ideology is deeply conspiratorial and linked to a long history of criminal activity and violence.

Drones! (Paging Agent Mulder)

Recent reports of mysterious drone sightings across New Jersey and parts of New York have fueled panic and conspiracy theories. On December 11, Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) suggested on Fox News that the drones came from an Iranian “mothership.” The Pentagon immediately dismissed the accusations, but that didn’t stop Islamophobic far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer from fanning the flames, suggesting on X that these could be “assassin drones” from Iran or China targeting President-elect Trump at his New Jersey golf course. On Telegram, QAnon believers and Proud Boys fell over themselves claiming the government is hiding the “truth” from Americans.

Why It Matters

The hysteria around these sightings has fueled online bigotry and conspiratorial thinking – but responses go beyond the usual online rancor. In recent days, several pilots flying over New Jersey have reported lasers hitting their planes, putting the aircrafts in jeopardy. Law enforcement is currently investigating these incidents.

The Base is Shooting Blanks

On December 15, accelerationist neo-Nazi group The Base posted a video showing (heavily armed) members in a series of undisclosed locations using explosive devices, firing automatic rifles and burning books – as well as a U.S. flag. Another recent photo showed hundreds of blank AR-15 rounds and included a heartfelt thank you to supporters, strongly implying the ammunition was purchased via crowdfunding.

Why It Matters

The (apparently) successful solicitation of donations and the new training video highlight a recent uptick in activity for The Base, which has a history of engaging in violent plots. The group’s resurgence would pose a significant risk to vulnerable communities across the country.

Proud Boys Getting Lots of Exercise Jumping to Conclusions

In a December 9 interview with NBC, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to begin pardoning January 6 Capitol rioters on his first day in office. This announcement was celebrated by the Proud Boys, the extremist group with the highest number of arrestees stemming from the insurrection, with at least 57 members and affiliates of chapters arrested across the country. One post in a chat dedicated to a Proud Boys rapper (we also have questions) read, “OUR FAMILY IS COMING HOME PRAISE GOD THANK YOU TRUMP!!!!”

Why It Matters

At this time, it remains unclear who President-elect Trump will pardon, as he has said there “may be some exceptions.” Prominent Proud Boys leaders – including Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, Ethan Nordean and Zachery Rehl – are clearly hoping for some help in wriggling out of their sentences, which are some of the most significant stemming from the January 6 attacks. Biggs’ attorney has already requested a “complete pardon” from Trump. 

Nick Fuentes Enters the “Find Out” Phase

On November 27, white supremacist Nick Fuentes was charged with misdemeanor battery for reportedly assaulting 57-year-old Marla Rose. When Rose rang the doorbell at Fuentes’ Chicago-area home, Fuentes allegedly smashed Rose’s phone, pepper sprayed her and pushed her down his steps. He is tentatively scheduled to appear in court on December 19. In the meantime, Fuentes, who is clearly very good at learning important life lessons, “joked” that if he spends time in jail, he’ll write another “Mein Kampf.”

Why It Matters

Since the 2024 election, Fuentes has really leaned into his misogyny. His followers, known as the Groypers, are defending Fuentes’ actions as self-defense. Like countless extremists before him, Fuentes is making hay from his arrest, peddling merch emblazoned with his mugshot.

This Antisemitism Goes to 11

On December 9, an unknown person or persons vandalized the home of Jewish University of Michigan regent Jordan Acker. The perpetrator(s) threw two mason jars filled with urine through a window of Acker’s home and spray-painted anti-Israel messages on his wife’s car, including a red triangle, a symbol Hamas uses to mark targets.

Why It Matters

This escalation illustrates the changing threat environment facing school officials in the post-October 7 era. Acker has been targeted twice previously; in April a masked stranger wearing a red kaffiyeh approached Acker’s front door at 4:40am, placed a list of demands for the University of Michigan leadership on his door, took photographs and left. In June, vandals spray painted anti-Israel graffiti on the front of the law firm where he works.

Interview with the Terrorist

On December 4, U.S.-based anti-Israel publication the Palestine Chronicle made the very questionable journalistic decision to interview Leila Khaled, a convicted terrorist, hijacker and member of the U.S.-designated terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Khaled used the interview to celebrate the October 7 attacks, draw parallels between the Nazis and the current Israeli government and reject a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.

Why It Matters

Khaled, who has been jailed for acts of terrorism, including hijacking two civilian airliners, is also known for her continued leadership in PFLP. She has been honored by major anti-Israel groups and occasionally receives invitations to speak on college campuses. In recent years, she has been celebrated at anti-Israel demonstrations, including on International Women’s Day.

Accelerationists Continue to Be Almost Unspeakably Terrible

Accelerationism, a violent ideology adopted by some segments of the white supremacist movement that promotes violent attacks and sabotage of infrastructure – with the goal of capitalizing on the ensuing chaos, is on something of a roll: Adherents were recently arrested for plotting to destroy power grids in Nashville and Baltimore, and in September, law enforcement arrested the alleged leaders of the Terrorgram Collective, a circle of accelerationist propagandists who have inspired at least two terror attacks and one plot to destroy an energy facility.

Why It Matters

Accelerationism has been linked to mass killings around the world, including attacks at the Jacksonville Dollar General Store and outside an LGBTQ+ bar in Bratislava. Movement propaganda – including online – has been instrumental in radicalizing extremist attackers, and is a key ideological component of many truly awful white supremacist groups, including such as Atomwaffen Division (later split into the National Socialist Order and National Socialist Resistance Front), The Base, Sonnenkrieg Division, Feuerkrieg Division, and most recently, Injekt Division.

GDL Leader Falls Prey to Lure of Instagram “Farm Life” Craze

Is Goyim Defense League (GDL) founder Jon Minadeo all about that trad wife life? After leaving Florida, Minadeo launched a GiveSendGo campaign for a “fashy” farm in the Ozarks, to “house IRL [in real life] activists” and host “pro-European events” like white supremacist weddings, birthdays and holiday gatherings.

Why It Matters

Minadeo is not the only white supremacist who seems to think he’s cut out for 3am farm chores; his crowdfunding campaign follows similar efforts by other white supremacist groups – including Irminfolk, Raven Folk United, Blood Tribe and the Aryan Freedom Network (AFN) – to raise funds for farmsteads or compounds. These projects have gone nowhere fast due to lack of funding or, in at least one case, intense backlash from local communities. 

Richard Mack, Stew Peters Excited to Make America Hateful Again

On November 27, Richard Mack, the founder of the extremist Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA), which believes sheriffs are the last line of defense against federal “overreach,” appeared on an episode of antisemite Stew Peters' eponymous show. This gave the men an opportunity to discuss their shared grievances about immigrants, celebrate plans for mass deportations and suggest arresting and prosecuting top U.S. officials, including DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Why It Matters

Mack's words echo reported plans to give county sheriffs authority to assist in mass deportations, and his focus on prosecuting Mayorkas is particularly concerning, given that prominent political figures are talking about weaponizing the legal system against perceived political enemies.

Active Clubs: Sadly, Not a Fun New Fitness Craze

As of November 25, the ADL Center on Extremism was tracking more than 50 Active Clubs in at least 35 states. Active Clubs, localized white supremacist crews inspired by Robert Rundo of the Rise Above Movement, are big on “real world” happenings, and were responsible for at least 21 white supremacist events in the first nine months of 2024. They also kept America’s shredders in business, distributing white supremacist propaganda 151 times in that same period.

Why It Matters

Active Clubs are a prime example of current white supremacist goals: uniting people from across the movement, whose principles and methods can be (surprisingly) divergent. In 2024, more than 62% of Active Club-affiliated events were collaborations with another white supremacist group – most frequently Patriot Front.

Zero Points for Originality: Influencers Blame Israel, CIA for Syrian Rebel Gains

On November 29, rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) carried out attacks in Syria, seizing the city of Aleppo. Conspiracy theorists responded with baseless narratives about the attacks, suggesting they were secretly coordinated by Israel, Zionists or the CIA.

Anti-Zionist and pro-Assad/pro-Putin influencers, including Jackson Hinkle, took to X and Telegram to claim that Israel worked with the Biden administration to help HTS carry out the attacks, which some couched as an assault on Christianity.

Why It Matters

This is a tired playbook: Major global event occurs; certain corners of the internet immediately blame Zionists, Israel and the Biden administration; hate ensues. It’s also a semi-clever marketing ploy: By sowing doubt in the “official” or “mainstream media” narrative, these influencers ensure that their followers consider them to be the sole source of “truth.”

Someone Forgot the First Rule of Fight Club: White Supremacists Host Jiu Jitsu Tournament

Patria Gloria, a Jiu Jitsu group affiliated with the white supremacist Patriot Front, christened their new martial arts dojo with a November tournament on private land in eastern Tennessee. The three-day “Winter Nights” tournament, which included several white supremacist attendees, featured bare-knuckle boxing and stylized fighting.

Why It Matters

White supremacists seem to spend a lot of time punching people (and getting punched themselves), so their increasing involvement in combat sports feels like a no-brainer. Not coincidentally, it’s also a great way to appeal to younger men (read: potential recruits), legions of whom are also embracing mixed martial arts (MMA).

Steaming Hot Plate of CopyPasta

Among the millions of examples of extremist and hateful content uncovered and analyzed in our recent report on Steam, the world’s largest gaming platform, were 1.18 million hateful "copypastas" – blocks of text used to generate images or messages. For example, swastikas crafted out of emoji. This is why we can’t have nice things.

Why It Matters

Not only are copypastas a popular method for sharing extremist or hateful content on gaming platforms like Steam, even more troubling, slight modifications—such as adding spaces or altering character placement—make it harder for moderators to detect and remove this content, turning it into a deliberate evasion tactic.

College Students Take “Touch Grass” Too Far... Again.

On November 21, anti-Israel activists at Sarah Lawrence College established an encampment on the south lawn after taking over a campus building. This protest was in response to the college’s refusal to implement divestment recommendations from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The National SJP subsequently named the action the “Take a Building Challenge.” A student group shared a photo from the encampment featuring a flag with the Samidoun emblem. In October, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Samidoun for serving as a fundraising arm for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Propaganda supporting Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader behind the October 7 attacks, were also distributed on campus.

Why It Matters

Although disruptive activities like encampments on campus have decreased since spring, the ongoing blatant glorification and support for terrorist organizations remain deeply concerning.

Home Is Where the Hate Is

Self-described Christian Nationalist pastors Andrew Isker and C. Jay Engel are urging followers to move with them to rural Jackson County, Tennessee, to build a community for “Christians and patriots” and establish “Christian nationalism in one state.” Isker claimed his own state, Minnesota, was a prime destination “for resettling foreign people hostile to our way of life.” Isker has also claimed that “love of own people” is now considered “xenophobia,” while Engel has simply declared that “there is indeed a war on Whites.” The pair are allegedly working with a development company that has purchased 600 acres of local land.

Why It Matters

There’s a long history of groups and movements trying to start intentional communities in different places across the U.S., including fringe religious sects, white supremacists, anti-government extremists, survivalists and others. Most fail, primarily because organizers typically have difficulty convincing people to uproot themselves and their families to start over again with uncertain prospects, just to be among like-minded people.

Peters Remains “Occupied” With Jews

Stew Peters, a known antisemitic conspiracy theorist, released a film titled “Occupied,” promoting the conspiracy that Jews and Israel control the U.S. government. The film centers on the Israel-Hamas conflict, falsely claiming that the October 7 massacre was a “false flag” attack and that it is being used to “take control” of neighboring countries to create “Greater Israel.” And as if that was not enough, it also includes Holocaust denial and praise for Hitler.

Why It Matters

“Occupied” is another entry in the genre of conspiratorial, antisemitic films that capitalize off tragedies and other notable events. Peters apparently intends to release a “clean” version for a more mainstream audience. That would be a short film.

Florida Man Relocates Hate to The Ozarks

After months of promising—or, depending on your perspective, threatening – to move to the Ozarks during his almost nightly livestreams, Jon Minadeo, founder of the antisemitic Goyim Defense League, has officially bid Florida farewell with a “final show.” He’s presumably settling into his new digs, where he plans to collaborate with neo-Nazi Billy Roper, leader of the Shield Wall Network and cheerleader for the so-called white ethno-state of Ozarkia.

Why It Matters

Minadeo moved to Florida in late 2022, contributing to a rise in antisemitism in the Sunshine State. However, activity declined significantly after Florida lawmakers enacted local ordinances targeting GDL tactics (like laser projections on buildings) and passed a statewide bill criminalizing the distribution of hate propaganda on private property.