Groupe Union Défense, aka GUD, was a French ultranationalist student union formed in the 1960s. It was based at Assas University, a right-leaning law school in Paris. After a period of inactivity, the group relaunched in 2022 to promote its activism on social media, rallying French ultranationalists across France. Originally a far-right organization, GUD turned toward support of "national revolutionary" theories in recent years, embracing anti-Zionism, anti-Americanism and supporting the al-Assad regime, in line with the Italian Fascist CasaPound and affiliated groups in Italy, including its youth movement Blocco Studentesco. GUD uses as symbols the Celtic cross and the Black Rats, also used by other fascist groups across Europe.
On June 26, 2024, after launching the dissolution process of several ultranationalist groups, including the Lyon-based Remparts, Agoge boxing club and Traboule ultranationalist pub, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced that he would launch the dissolution of GUD. The news triggered an uproar in ultranationalist, fascist and white supremacist groups throughout France and Italy. The report provides a sample of the reactions on social media.
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