Far-right groups in France openly display confidence, using violence and armbands to target demonstrators and challenge state authority.
White armbands used in Montpellier
In Montpellier, individuals wearing white armbands were reported to have struck demonstrators and moved through police ranks, even handing over a man to the CRS, according to the Observatory of Public Freedoms. None of the members of this group were detained on the spot.Far-right groups take to the streets
On October 24, far-right groups in several cities in France decided to take to the streets, forming "protection" groups, identifying their enemies, and sometimes taking action. These groups aimed to assert their presence and influence publicly.Public displays in Lyon
In Lyon, they walked in groups, openly chanting their slogans. The actions and displays are described as chilling, not only because of the blows or the armbands, but also due to the new confidence exhibited by these groups.Shift in rhetoric and strategy
Their speech is no longer hidden, but is instead displayed, filmed, and claimed. They speak of "protecting," of "cleansing," and of replacing a state considered too weak, identifying those against whom violence would become acceptable. This shift indicates a more overt and organized approach by these groups.
