The Black Bloc has had a presence in French politics for some time before the populist rise of recent time. I believe it is important to mention, because it remains one of the most challenging issues for the Gilets Jaunes to overcome in the realm of public relations. Their actions are a stain on the reputation of the “peaceful Yellow Vest” and serve to only vilify an otherwise non-violent movement in the minds of the neutral French citizens.
The group is explicitly anarchist and could be best conflated with the American ANTIFA in both ideology and tactics. Now, ANTIFA is supposed to be a coalition of multi-ideological persons opposed to fascism but is almost exclusively made up of socialists and others of the same leftist caliber. Similarly, the Black Bloc contains the same concentration of leftist ideology, while claiming to be a coalition of rational persons who stand against police brutality, racial injustice, and the like. In practice, however, the Black Bloc has built up quite a negative reputation for itself. Vandalism and assault are a common tactic employed by its members, even if it is not explicitly taught to followers. It was common in the opening days of the Yellow Vest protest to find videos of black clad vandals torching cars, both police and civilian, smashing windows of shopfronts and residential buildings, and attacking police with throwables or smaller items before fleeing into large manifestations.
I want to stress the importance of separating the actions of the Black Bloc from that of the non-violent protesters. They do not represent the ethos or tactics stated by the leadership of the Gilets Jaunes and are better forgotten than taken seriously. I would be more open to labeling the Black Bloc as a terrorist organization than one seeking justice and a fair chance on the political stage.
France on Fire 