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Key Points

R.A.M. (Rise Above Movement) is a white supremacist group based in Southern California whose members believe they are fighting against a "modern world" corrupted by the "destructive cultural influences" of liberals, Jews, Muslims and non-white immigrants. They refer to themselves as the "premier MMA (mixed martial arts) club of the Alt-Right." Originally based in Southern California, today their membership is mostly online, and leader Robert Rundo is living in Eastern Europe.

• R.A.M. operates like a street-fighting social club. Members railroad train to do physical battle with their ideological foes and take been involved in violent clashes during political rallies and demonstrations.
• While they consider themselves role of the alt correct, R.A.K.'s membership has deep roots in California'due south racist skinhead movement, and includes individuals who have faced serious criminal charges, including attack, robbery and weapon offenses.
• Post-obit the arrest of 3 members afterwards the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, the group'southward U.S. activity has been mainly limited to training and propaganda efforts. Meanwhile, group leader Robert Rundo has worked to create a network of white-supremacist groups in Eastern Europe.

Overview

The Ascent Above Movement (R.A.Thousand.) is a white supremacist group based in Southern California (predominantly Orange County region) whose members believe they are fighting against a "mod world" corrupted by the "destructive cultural influences" of liberals, Jews, Muslims, and the effects of non-white clearing. Their ostensible goal is to restore European-American (i.e., white) civilisation to America and create a "bourgeois counter-culture" that embraces white identity and "traditional Christian" values. They see themselves as patriotic crusaders who are fighting against "communist" forces and advocating on behalf of a victimized white population.

"We want to rise above all of today's destructive civilisation and see the rebirth of our people, stiff in mental and physical capacities as our forefathers were. In a time when y'all can exist harmed for your political behavior or shamed for your heritage, nosotros are here to defend our identity and shared goals." Rise Above Motility, Instagram, June 12, 2017

"The Ascension Above Movement is the premier MMA guild of the Alt-Right, representing the United states. Their dedication is to promote an agile lifestyle and common values among young people and a time to come for European people. This is achieved through training, creative thinking and activism. The principal chore of The Rise Higher up Motion is to revive the spirit of a warrior and to come across the rebirth of values of Western Civilization'south forefathers." Rise Above Movement, GAB.ai, December 18, 2017.

On October ii, 2018, federal and local law enforcement arrested four individuals allegedly associated with Rise Above Movement, charging them with intent to encourage, promote, incite, participate in, and commit fierce acts in furtherance of a anarchism. Benjamin Drake Daley, 25, of Redondo Beach, Thomas Walter Gillen, 34, of Redondo Beach, Michael Paul Miselis, 29, of Lawndale and Cole Evan White, 24, of Clayton were each charged with one count of violating the federal riots statute and one count of conspiracy to violate the federal riots statute. Each defendant faces up to ten years in prison.  The indictment alleges the 4 engaged in a coordinated and planned try to violently attack protesters at political rallies and provides screenshots from video footage of R.A.M. members kicking, punching and headbutting.

They pleaded guilty and were sentenced on July 19, 2019. Daley (who is the group's co-founder) was sentenced to 37 months in prison, Gillen was sentenced to 33 months in prison and Miselis was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Cole Evan White accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 14 months, with seven months credit for time served.

Iii additional R.A.K. members were likewise indicted, including group leader Robert Rundo, but a U.S. District Court dismissed the charges, concluding that the federal Anti-Riot Act is "unconstitutionally overbroad in violation of the Starting time Amendment." Federal prosecutors are currently appealing that ruling to the 9th U.Due south. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Following initial accusations of Michael Miselis' alleged violent misconduct in Charlottesville, R.A.G. came to his defense force in a YouTube video, "Simulated News Exposed."  They claimed that Miselis was defending himself and "cleared the sidewalk of commie scum."

Some within the far-right have come to R.A.M.'s defence.  On the day of the arrest, white supremacist Juan Cadavid, aka Johnny Benitez, posted on Gab, a social media network popular with white supremacists, "RAM terrifies the FBI because they're simply a bunch of hardworking white guys who stick together in a fraternity and stand up for themselves when Antifa attacks."  The white supremacist arrangement Northwest Front end posted on Gab, "Rise Higher up Motility is your frontline antifa push back strength.  Back up them!  Don't buy the lies the DOJ and FBI is conjuring up.  RAM are clean anti-drug pro-American and pro-work and pro-exercise through the discipline of preparation mixed martial arts.  Support RAM. They support you at Trump rallies and they protect Trump supporters at every gathering. Costless RAM Now."

For much of 2020, the grouping's action in the U.S. has been primarily online. This is likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that group leader Robert Rundo moved to Eastern Europe, where he has forged alliances with European white supremacist groups and shared videos with his supporters across the globe.

Leadership

Benjamin Daley of Redondo Embankment is a leader in the Ascent Above Movement and is featured prominently in the grouping'southward recruitment videos. He has traveled not only throughout California to attend rallies but also participated in the August 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Daley has a history of using social media to promote anti-Semitic cartoons and conspiracy theories near Jewish control of the cyberbanking, media and legal organization. He was indicted in 2018 for intent to encourage, promote, incite, participate in, and commit fierce acts in furtherance of a riot at Unite the Right.

Robert Rundo of San Clemente, California, is in charge of the group's MMA training plan.  Law enforcement reports betoken he besides runs the grouping'due south Twitter page and produces their videos. According to media reports, Rundo has prior convictions in New York, and served an 18-calendar month sentence for assault with a weapon stemming from a September 2009 stabbing post-obit a gang fight. He was indicted in 2022 for planning and intentionally engaging in fierce attacks and assaults confronting counter-protesters at diverse political events in Huntington Beach, Berkeley and San Bernardino, California, only a U.S. District Court after dismissed the charges. Since and so, Rundo has lived in various Eastern European locations, participating in white supremacist events and making propaganda videos for R.A.M.'s social media accounts.

Origins

It is unclear exactly how many R.A.M. members are active in the U.S., but it is believed that the grouping currently consists of fewer than twenty loosely affiliated neo-Nazis and racist skinheads who were formerly known as DIY Division but rebranded themselves as the Rising Above Movement in the bound of 2017. "The premier MMA lodge of the alt right," espouses racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance at events and online. Members have been spotted carrying "Da Goyim Know" signs, a reference to an anti-Semitic trope almost Jews trying to go along non-Jews "in the dark" about their plans for world domination. During an anti-Muslim rally in San Bernardino, one member held a sign declaring, "Rapefugees Non Welcome." Several others held a imprint that read, "Defend America. Islamists Out," and depicted lance-wielding crusaders on horseback chasing after fleeing Muslims.

R.A.Grand. emerged within the alt-right scene to claiming the "keyboard warriors" and encourage real earth action.  In a January 2022 Gab mail they wrote, "A new twelvemonth and a new management for the alt right, fourth dimension to go out behind online memes and endless hours shitposting and act like we actually do want a world that exists beyond discords and edgy websites."

Propensity for Violence

The group operates like a street-fighting club and promotes concrete fettle and strength-grooming in grooming for altercations with counter-protesters at political rallies and demonstrations. In 2017, R.A.Yard. members were part of violent clashes at California rallies in Berkeley and Huntington Embankment, and at the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Members attend events prepared to fight, concealing their identity with skull masks or American flag themed bandanas, wearing goggles to block pepper spray attacks and wrapping their hands and wrists with gauze or tape to protect themselves from injuries.

In online posts, members romanticize their role of protecting victimized whites against numerous elements that threaten their existence and use that imagined threat to justify force.  R.A.Chiliad.'s fierce ideology is glorified in the group's recruitment videos and other online propaganda. The videos cut back and forth from footage of members brawling at demonstrations to scenes of members participating in conditioning sessions.

Antifa plays a prominent role in R.A.Grand.'s cocky-definition and provides them with a tangible enemy. Their digital propaganda highlights violence against the left, and features images of members wearing t-shirts emblazoned with phrases like "Kill a Commie for Mommy," or posing in front of graffiti of the letters GNLS, an acronym for "Proficient Night Left Side," a common anti-antifa slogan.

In ane bulletin on their Gab account, R.A.K. posted an paradigm of Robert Rundo fighting with a protester, accompanied by the words "Physical Removal."  The caption reads, "The mean solar day we got our starting time. Not many altrighters can say they not only stood and fought Antifa but actually chased them out of rallies and keep [sic] fellow patriots safe. #warriorspirit #nationalist #morthanmemes."  Another propaganda photo, posted on Twitter, shows members walking through a grassy field, with the words, "Love Nature Hate Antifa."  On August 16, the group posted an image of masked R.A.K. members flashing OK symbols and holding upwards a banner that reads "anti-Communist action" with the hashtags #antiantifa #anticommunism #rightwing.

Several R.A.M. members have violent criminal backgrounds, with convictions for felony assault, robbery and weapon violations. Robert Rundo has prior convictions in New York for assault with a weapon and gang assault 2nd caste. Tyler Laube of Redondo Beach, California, has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for robbery and bladed weapon violations. Robert Bowman of Torrance, California, also has an all-encompassing criminal history, and has been bedevilled of robbery, theft, battery, vandalism, trespassing and assault.

2018 Indictments and Arrests

On October 24, 2018, Robert Rundo, one of the central figures in the Ascent Higher up Movement, was taken into custody, according to police force enforcement. Authorities besides arrested Tyler Laube and Robert Boman, while a fourth individual named in a new criminal complaint, Aaron Eason, remains at large.  The arrests stalk from a criminal complaint filed past the FBI on October xx in the U.S. District Courts, Central Commune of California, charging Rundo, Boman, Laube and Eason with criminal conspiracy to anarchism and commit acts of violence at a political rally.

The complaint alleges Rundo, Boman, Laube and Eason planned and intentionally engaged in tearing attacks and assaults against counter-protesters at diverse political events in Huntington Beach, Berkeley and San Bernardino, among others, and sheds additional low-cal on R.A.M.'southward securely-rooted white supremacist beliefs. Rundo, according to law enforcement, keeps a big framed portrait of Adolf Hitler in his room, and is quoted as maxim, "I am a big supporter of the fourteen. I'll say that." "Fourteen" is a reference to the "14 Words," the earth'southward best-known white supremacist slogan. R.A.K. members' private communications, collected by the FBI, further underscore the group's white supremacist ideology. R.A.M. member Ben Daley, who was charged earlier in October for his interest in Unite the Right wrote (prior to UTR), "Regardless nosotros should all still go. Im [sic] flying out from CA with a scattering regardless. Fuck these jews [sic]." In another private communication, one-time UCLA student Michael Miselis, who was also charged in the earlier indictment, boasted that R.A.G.'s violent deportment at the Berkeley rally represented "Total Aryan Victory."

The charges against Rundo et al are separate from the October 2, 2018, indictment of iv R.A.M. members for intent to encourage, promote, incite, participate in, and commit fierce acts in furtherance of a riot at the Unite the Right (UTR) rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Ben Daley, Thomas Gillen, Michael Miselis and Cole White were each charged with ane count of violating the federal riots statute and one count of conspiracy to violate the federal riots statute. Each accused faces upwardly to 10 years in prison.  The indictment alleges the four men engaged in a coordinated and planned effort to violently assault protesters at political rallies, and includes supporting evidence of R.A.K. members kicking, punching and headbutting.

While Daley, Gillen, Miselis and White were convicted, the charges against Rundo, Boman, Laube and Eason were dismissed.

R.A.K. Brand Edifice

In January 2018, R.A.M. launched an online merchandise arm chosen The Right Brand Clothing company.  This appears to be an effort to mainstream and monetize their credo past selling a range of paraphernalia from vesture to stickers.  The Right Brand'south motto is "Courage, Activism and Style," with no mention of the white supremacist ideology backside the brand.  The enterprise bills itself as "a nationalist apparel company committed to bringing you lot the highest quality goods… For our people, Made past our people!"  RAM members are prominently featured throughout the site, modeling their products, some adorned with Viking imagery and runic letters. The names of their wares underscore their attempts at edgy, counter-culture aesthetic, and include "the disrupter jogger" and "demagogue" pants.  Nether a section entitled "activism" they sell "FCK Antifa" stickers, highlighting their fixation on the left, and "mod white youth" stickers, which depict the dangers of rap, feminism, homosexuality and "third world" clearing.

In September 2019, the group launched Our Fight Clothing Co. which featured merchandise similar to The Right Make Habiliment Co. The now-defunct website sold non only R.A.Thou.'due south own labels, but besides a big collection of European clothing brands catering to white supremacists. This appears to be a key part of R.A.Yard.'due south increasing collaboration with the European white supremacist motility.

In the summer of 2020, R.A.M. launched Media2Rise, a YouTube aqueduct and documentary product outlet, calling it "a chance to have the voices of the censored be heard, and the epitome nosotros want to be shown." Through Media2Rise, Rundo and other members take released a steady stream of videos showing viewers how to stencil posters (and avert getting caught while distributing them), every bit well as sharing workout routines, ideas on how to travel while on a no-fly list and suggestions on how viewers can start their own crews.

International Ties

Online platforms have enabled white supremacist groups to tap into a global customs, amplifying their racist views and connecting them with like-minded individuals. Real-earth connections extending beyond these virtual platforms show a true commitment and investment into their cause.  In April 2022 R.A.Thou. members Robert Rundo, Ben Daley and Robert Smithson embarked on a "European tour" to "span the gap between the two nationalist scenes."

A video posted to their now defunct YouTube channel included highlights from the grouping'due south "European tour," including footage of stickers that emphasize their xenophobic and anti-leftist views, "rapefugees non welcome" and "fckantifa."  In the same propaganda piece, they flaunt graffiti, presumably their own, which reads "White Boys Social club," a catch-phrase of the grouping, and ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards).

Underscoring their ideological alliance with like-minded international groups, The Right Brand prominently features products from White King, a Russian-based mixed martial arts promotion and article of clothing label company that appeals to fans of gainsay sports with deep white supremacist underpinnings.   On their website they note this is part of a "European American collaboration," reinforcing mutual themes of nationalism, nativism and xenophobia.  In a section called "European Gear," one t-shirt reads "Facing the sunday in my uniform. That'southward how death will notice me. White Male monarch."  Other t-shirts emphasize nationalist themes such equally "European Brotherhood: Time to Fight. Join the Resistance."

Rundo's 2022 move to Eastern Europe allowed him to solidify his links to European white supremacist groups. In February 2020, he attended the Lukov march in Sofia, Bulgaria, alongside white supremacists from Germany, France, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Scandinavia. After that year he and other members of R.A.M. visited Republic of hungary and Serbia, and met with European members of the Hammerskins and other neo-Nazi groups.

Rundo's participation in the Lukov march was the subject of the first documentary released by R.A.M.'s media company Media2Rise.

Rundo and other members accept participated in numerous MMA events as well every bit training camps in Eastern Europe.

Activity

In addition to working out and honing their fighting skills,  R.A.M. typically participates in California events organized by other far-right groups and individuals, including white supremacist organizations  such every bit Identity Evropa, SoCal Beach Goys, Patriot Front, Juan Benitez Cadavid (aka Johnny Benitez) and Red Elephant's Vincent James Foxx, every bit well as alt lite figures including Kyle Chapman of the Fraternal Society of Alt Knights (FOAK) and Joey Gibson of Patriot Prayer.

Occasionally, R.A.M members will organize their ain protest activities. In July 2017, members attempted to disrupt a Committee for Racial Justice coming together in Santa Monica. That aforementioned calendar month, they hung this banner over a Torrance superhighway: "Secure Borders, Secure Future."

• Sofia, Bulgaria, February 2020: R.A.Grand. members Robert Rundo and Robert Smithson attended the Lukov march and memorial aslope neo-Nazis from Germany, France, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Scandinavia. Organized past the far-correct Bulgarian National Spousal relationship, the Lukov march is a neo-Nazi procession that honors Hristo Lukov, a Nazi collaborator who propagated xenophobia and antisemitism.
• February 2020, Hungary/Serbia: R.A.M. members Robert Rundo and Robert Smithson traveled to Budapest, Hungary, and Belgrade, Serbia, to participate in neo-Nazi events including Festung Budapest, a neo-Nazi concert, and a "Day of Honor," organized by Hungarian Hammerskins to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Nazi and Hungarian forces killed  by the Soviet Army during the 1945 Siege of Budapest. During this same visit, Rundo allegedly met with members of Kormilo, a radical Serbian nationalist organization.
• Ostriz, Germany, April 2018: R.A.K members Robert Rundo, Ben Daley and Robert Smithson traveled to Europe to attend Germany's white supremacist Schild und Schwert (Shield and Sword) Festival, held on Adolf Hitler'southward birthday.
• Kiev, Ukraine, Apr 27, 2018: Robert Rundo participated in a white supremacist MMA competition at the "Reconquista Club."  In a Gab post R.A.G. noted "one of our guys has had the honor to be the offset American to compete in the pan european [sic] organisation Reconquista in Ukraine. This was a swell experience meeting nationalist that came equally far equally Portugal and Switzerland to take part."
• Nashville, Tennessee, April 27 – 29, 2018: One R.A.M member attended the white supremacist American Renaissance conference hosted by Jared Taylor, held at the Montgomery Bong State Park in Tennessee.
• Jan 27, 2018: R.A.Thou launched an online store called The Correct Brand, marketed to fellow white supremacists.
• Charlottesville, Virginia, August 2017: R.A.Thou members attended the "Unite the Right" rally and contributed to violence confronting counter-protesters.
• Santa Monica, California, July 2017: R.A.M. members attempted to disrupt a Committee for Racial Justice coming together.
• Torrance, California, July 2017: R.A.K. members hung a "Secure Borders, Secure Future" banner over the 110 Freeway.
• San Bernardino, California, June 2017: R.A.G. members participated in an "anti-Sharia police" protest holding signs that read "Defend America Islamists out!" and "RAPEFUGEES stay abroad Not WELCOME."
• Huntington Beach, California May 2017: R.A.Chiliad. members participated with other white supremacists in book burning. Ben Daley and Tom Gillen are pictured in front of an array of books including "The Diary of Anne Frank," "The Jewish Volume of Why," "Cultural Pluralism" and "Trapped in Hitler's Hell" amid others.
• Berkeley, California, Apr 2017: R.A.One thousand. members engaged in physical altercations with counter-protesters during a "Say No to Marxism" rally hosted by Kyle Chapman and other far correct activists.
• Huntington Beach, California, March 2017: Approximately a dozen R.A.M. members attended a "Brand America Great Once again" rally nether the banner of DIY Partition. Equally the event turned violent, RAM members fanned out and began fighting with counter-protesters.

In 2022 R.A.One thousand. appeared to step up their efforts to collaborate with other groups, beginning a prolific campaign of mutual propaganda distributions where members of R.A.M. put upwardly other groups' stickers groups along with their ain, and vice versa.

This has included domestic white supremacist groups like National Socialist Club (NSC 131) and Revolt Through Tradition, simply also international groups based in Europe. While it remains unclear to what degree Revolt Through Tradition is an actual group with members or only a brand created past Rundo and his circle, merchandise and propaganda for the group has turned upwards in the U.Southward. and across Europe. Rundo has frequently been featured in ads on Telegram for Serbon Shop, an online store carrying a large range of wearable brands for European white supremacists.

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Source: https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounders/rise-above-movement-ram

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