Orgs of interest

a white supremacist worldview, advocating for raising “white racial consciousness” and the eventual formation of white ethnostates in North America, Europe, and Australia. To promote their message, they encourage “pro-white activism” in the forms of rallies, propaganda distribution, and recruitment efforts. This network originally began organizing on Telegram in late March 2021. On March 25, a newly created Telegram channel began advertising nationwide and international “White Lives Matter” marches scheduled for April 11. This first designated day of action was disorganized and saw relatively low levels of involvement. This is partially because of alleged antifa infiltration of some state-specific WLM Telegram channels, hijacking them to cause confusion and disrupt planning. However, WLM rallies were held in 13 states; most were small demonstrations, with only a few WLM members holding signs. The largest rally took place in Huntington Beach, California, with around 10 WLM marchers and over 100 counter-protesters, three of whom were arrested. Proud Boy Eddie Block live-streamed the protest and a man with a Totenkopf tattoo confronted counter-protesters. Another man, with a swastika tattoo on his arm, was also arrested. Since that initial day of action, WLM has evolved into a national network of white supremacists who engage in “pro-white activism” on a designated day each month. The national WLM Telegram channel has over 11,400 subscribers, with individual channels for each state run by local administrators. The national WLM channel determines the days of action and shares propaganda materials; it is up to administrators in each state to organize their local activities. While all 50 states have Telegram channels, there are currently 28 states that maintain an active presence online and offline, staging flash demonstrations and distributing propaganda. There are also a handful of international chapters, including in Canada, Australia and the Netherlands, among others. On their official Telegram channel, WLM administrators caution against violence and displaying overt neo-Nazi symbols at protests and in propaganda. However, individuals across WLM state channels embrace neo-Nazi rhetoric in Telegram chats, praising Hitler and Nazi Germany; using Nazi imagery in their profile pictures and posts; and espousing antisemitism. Additionally, some neo-Nazi groups, particularly in New England, California and Florida, have joined forces with WLM in their localities for activism and recruitment purposes. Neo-Nazis may also participate in WLM-related activities and sometimes display neo-Nazi symbols during WLM events. Overlap with other white supremacist groupsSince its formation in spring 2021, the White Lives Matter network has increasingly collaborated with individuals from various white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups, including the National Socialist Movement (NSM), Nationalist Social Club (NSC), American National Socialist Party (ANSP) and Goyim Defense League (GDL). While this sort of nationwide, collaborative effort between different extremist groups is not unprecedented, it indicates that extremists are becoming increasingly anxious about perceived “threats” to white people and are willing to work together to send a message. White Lives Matter has enabled white supremacists and neo-Nazis alike to unite under a common cause – to “raise white consciousness” – despite their ideological differences. It also gives these groups a chance to introduce WLM members to more extreme views and potentially recruit them.