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The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) has updated its database on global far-right and extremist symbols, which now encompasses more than 500 symbols from around the world.
GPAHE has published this directory because far-right hate and extremist symbols are critical identifiers for these movements. Extremists use symbols to attract attention to their movements and to spread hate and intimidation. They are also used to communicate connection and camaraderie, much like a gang symbol would, which is a powerful tool for attracting new recruits.
The most recent update includes many entries related to very active local far-right groups that often go undetected by the media. For example, the update includes about three dozen local white nationalist French identitarian groups that sprouted from the banning of Social Bastion and Generation Identity, including Oriflamme, RED Angers, and Perpignan 7.59.
The update also includes dozens of local chapters for the decentralized network of white nationalist “Active Clubs” around the world, many of which are found in the United States, in addition to dozens of others in countries including Portugal, Finland, Estonia, and Scotland. Known for training their members in MMA fighting and other martial arts, Active Clubs may now be one of the largest transnational hate movements.
As NPR recently covered, Active Clubs, many of which espouse violence and neo-Nazi beliefs, are growing across the United States. Recognizing their symbols is important not only for tech companies, law enforcement, and the media, but for individuals they may be trying to recruit into their movements.
GPAHE also added additional entries in the symbols database of European radical right and extreme right political parties, many of which have become increasingly mainstreamed and influential in recent years. Among others, these symbols include the logos for the German far-right party Alternative für Deutschland, Italy’s Lega per Salvini Premier, and the Sweden Democrats.
GPAHE’s country reports, which share deep research on far-right extremist groups and movements in multiple countries, go into depth on why these political parties are included in our listings of far-right hate and extremist groups.
In order to provide additional context to the growing conversation about far-right individuals of Latino descent, especially after the racist shooting in Allen, Texas – GPAHE has also added a collection of symbols related to far-right groups located in South and Central America, both past and present. The update includes various flags, hand signals, and logos of groups throughout the Americas.
With radicalization and recruitment into far-right movements increasingly occurring online, the update includes several entries related to signifiers of hate that are found almost exclusively online. These updates include entries for common 4chan memes, Incel-related terminology, and new symbols such as the hand sign used by followers of the extreme misogynist Andrew Tate.
The update also includes additional hateful slogans used around the world.
This tool helps to identify where far-right actors are active, the narratives they are pushing, and helps show — from online forums to violent extremism — how hate and extremist groups and individuals inspire and connect each other across borders.
The directory is intended to assist law enforcement, tech companies, policymakers, military branches, researchers, media, and advocates to identify and combat far-right hate and extremism and the violence that so often accompanies it.
