Welcome to extremely, a weekly newsletter from the ADL Center on Extremism and your go-to resource for emerging trends and developments in extremism and hate.
In this week's newsletter: Proud Boys Angle for Pardons, Fuentes Charged and Khaled Hijacks Online Publication
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.
More from COE
→ Glossary of Extremism: A comprehensive overview of the many individuals, events, groups and movements that populate the extremist landscape.
→ Hate on Display: The preeminent index of extremist and hate symbols, tattoos, flags and numerology.
→ H.E.A.T. Map: A first-of-its-kind, interactive tracker of hate, extremism, antisemitism and terrorism incidents across America.
→ Podcast: extremely: Co-hosted by COE’s Oren Segal and Jessica Reaves, the new extremely provides critical insights into the ever-evolving extremist landscape and showcases fresh perspectives from experts dedicated to understanding and combatting extremism and hate.