Friday, February 25, 2011

Now More Than A Thousand Hate Groups In U.S.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has released its annual intelligence report on hate groups in the United States, and it paints a pretty grim portrait of America. Hate groups are still proliferating in this country, and as the chart shows, for the first time since the SPLC began keeping tabs on them the number of different hate groups has topped 1,000. These groups grew from 932 of them in 2009 to 1002 of them in 2010 (a rise of 7.5% in the last year and a rise of 66% since the year 2000).

The SPLC says the reasons for this continued growth is "resentment over the changing racial demographics of the country, frustration over the lagging economy, and the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories and other demonizing propaganda aimed at minorities and the government."

Mark Potok, editor of the SPLC Intelligence Report, said, "Far-right extremists remain highly energized, even as politicians across the country co-opt many of the radical ideas and issues that are important to them. This success in having their voices heard in the political arena, where they have long occupied the fringe of conservative thought, might eventually take the wind out of their sails, but so far we're not seeing any sign of that."

While there are hate groups in all states, some have many more than others. You can go here to see the numbers for all states. The states with the most hate groups are:

California...............68
Texas...............59
Florida...............48
New Jersey...............47
Mississippi...............40
Georgia...............39
Pennsylvania...............36
Tennessee...............35
Michigan...............35
Alabama...............33
Ohio...............32
New York...............31
South Carolina...............30

In addition the the groups designated as hate groups, the SPLC also tracks two other kinds of groups -- "nativist extremist" groups and "patriot" organizations (including militias). The nativist extremist groups are defined as those "organizations that go beyond mere advocacy of restrictive immigration policy to actually confront or harass suspected undocumented immigrants or their employers." These groups grew from 309 groups in 2009 to 319 in 2010 -- an increase of 3%.

But the Patriot movement groups, who see the federal government as their primary enemy, had the most explosive growth in the last year. They grew an astounding 61% -- from 512 groups in 2009 to 824 groups in 2010. The militias, a part of this movement, grew from 127 groups in 2009 to 330 groups in 2010 -- a growth of 160%.

When the hate groups, the nativist extremist groups and the patriot groups are added together, we have a pretty scary scenario.   Collectively these groups grew from 1,753 in 2009 to 2,145 in 2010 -- a frightening increase of 22% in just the last year.

None of this is happening in a vacuum. With the election of an African-American president and the growth of the minority population far outpacing the white establishment, these groups have seized on these things to once again come forward with their hate-filled agenda. The really sad part is that this agenda has been embraced by many on the right -- especially the teabaggers and the Republican Party (who are using these people in an effort to return to power).

There is a discussion to be held on immigration, the deficit, and other issues, but appealing to the darkest side of human nature is not the way to hold that discussion. An immigrant nation such as ours must never abandon its goal of tolerance and diversity.

7 comments:

  1. 1. There is no legal definition for “hate group,” which is why even the FBI does not track “hate groups.”

    2. The SPLC uses the deliberately meaningless term “hate groups” in its fund-raising propaganda precisely because it allows them to denigrate their perceived opponents without accusing them of any actual crimes.

    3. The “Hate Map” is a fund-raising tool, nothing more. It provides no information whatsoever on the alleged groups, in fact, the SPLC didn’t even bother to make up locations for 262 of the groups; that’s 26% of the total.

    In many states the percentage of phantom "groups" runs as high as 80-100%. Many of the alleged “groups” are listed twice in the same location.

    4. Since the SPLC is the sole arbiter of the meaningless “hate groups” label, AND because SPLC fund-raising is directly tied to creating the illusion of an ever-increasing threat, it is in their direct financial interest to raise the numbers each year.

    Last year the SPLC took in $31 million donor-dollars in donations and earned $26 million in interest on its bloated “Endowment Fund.” That’s $57 million dollars for last year alone. Since 2003, the SPLC has taken in more than a third of a BILLION dollars in tax-free cash, and yet the number of “hate groups” always goes up.

    http://wp.me/pCLYZ-82

    5. The most ironic (read: "hypocritical") thing about the Southern Poverty Law Center is that NOT ONE of its top ten, highest paid executives is a minority.

    http://wp.me/pCLYZ-7m

    In fact, according to the SPLC's hometown newspaper, the Montgomery Advertiser, despite being located LITERALLY in the back yard of Dr. Martin Luther King's home church, the SPLC has NEVER hired a person of color to a highly paid position of power in its entire 40 year history.

    Some "experts"

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  2. I used to be a financial supporter of the SPLC. When Clinton was in office, even the conservatives on AM radio kept blaring lies and threats, trying to get someone to do something evil to the Clitons, actually legitimizing these militia groups, SPLC wouldn't say a word about that.
    They contacted me several times looking for a donation. I've told them at least 3 times, even in a letter, unless they condemn the hate talk the conservanazis love to put on the airwaves, that they are condoning what is being done. SPLC should tell the public that Fox Noise, glenn beckkk, hannity, druggie limbaugh and the rest of those hate-filled propagandists are the root of the problem. If SPLC couldn't do that, the problem will get bigger and SPLC condones it.
    "If you ain't part of the solution, then you are part of the problem."

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  3. What's the matter, TexasVietVet? Couldn't you come up with a clever way to spell "hannity"? Here are a few suggestions:

    hanni-nazi
    hanni-nutsy
    han-nutty
    han-not-free

    And while we're on the subject, you might want to consider the following:

    Jerry Paper Doily (for Jerry Doyle)
    Herman Un-Abel (for Herman Cain - get it? Cain & Abel?)
    Laura In-Graham Cracker ('cus she's white!)

    Like I always say, if argumentum ad hominem doesn't strengthen your argument, argumentum ad nominem always will ("Sticks & Stones," don't ya know!)

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  4. Getting a little touchy aren't you, CT?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Getting a little touchy aren't you, CT?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Me? Touchy? Not at all.

    I'm merely pointing out the differences between logically laying out the facts (as Richard Keefe did about the SPLC) and simple name calling (as TexasVietVet did about conservative talk show hosts). Who do you think made his case better, Richard Keefe or TexasVietVet?

    To be fair, name calling isn't limited to people on the Left. In fact, Rush Limbaugh is infamous for the same tactic ("Fort Worth-less" Jim Wright, "Dingy Harry" Reid, etc.).

    Just remember, Ted: The next time you use the word "teabagger," you'll have something in common with Rush Limbaugh. :)

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  7. That's a pretty bad (although good-humored) insult, CT. But I'm sure I'll still be using the term. It's just too good to pass up.

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