Since its inception in 2018, Jeune Garde (Young Guard) has been France’s most prominent anti-fascist youth organization. However, the group may not exist for much longer. In June 2025, the French government issued a decree dissolving the group and declaring it illegal. This decision, presented as a measure to protect public order, has ignited fierce debate in France. It follows similar moves across other European nations such as Germany, Hungary, and the UK, where activist groups have been banned and criminalized for their activities in a way that many feel is disproportionate and antidemocratic.

Jeune Garde was founded in Lyon in 2018, following a rise in far-right street violence in the city. The operation mainly consists of young working-class leftists; has divisions in the French cities of Paris, Strasbourg, Lille, and Montpellier; and operates according to a militant and confrontational ethos. Affiliates are often masked and dressed in black garb bearing the “three arrows” symbol familiar to many leftists since its use by German social democrats in the 1930s. The organization’s slogan — “Face à l’extrême droite: riposte immédiate!” (“Against the far right: immediate response!”) — defines what its supporters stand for: open confrontation with France’s far right.

While such rhetoric is not always backed up by violence, Jeune Garde is well known for its street fights with far-right groups. Activists train in combat sports and conduct street patrols where they seek out fascist activists, disrupt meetings, and conceal racist graffiti. The group has shared videos of such altercations on social media, which have drawn criticism and led to French newspapers framing Jeune Garde as a far-left militia.