Latest news with #Maehara
22-05-2025
Southern Poverty Law Center to release annual report on hate and extremism
The Southern Poverty Law Center is expected to release its annual report Thursday on white nationalist, neo-Nazi and anti-government extremist group activity in the United States. The Hate & Extremism Report will identify the number of active hate groups in 2024 and how that compares to previous years. It will also look at anti-government group trends. The law center based in Montgomery, Alabama, tracks racism, xenophobia and far-right militias. Last year's report found 'record numbers' of white nationalist and anti-LGBTQ groups in 2023. The analysis highlighted how far-right groups tried to waylay democracy through disinformation, false conspiracy theories and threats to election workers. It also examined how supporters of Christian supremacy used similar topics to organize a movement toward authoritarianism. The SPLC is a liberal advocacy organization that, besides monitoring hate groups, files lawsuits over justice issues and offers educational programs to counter prejudice. Frequently criticized by conservatives as biased, the nonprofit has faced lawsuits for its designation of some organizations as hate groups. The report's release comes as a Los Angeles college professor makes his first public appearance since he was severely injured in a hit and run that he reported as a hate crime. He is scheduled to speak Thursday morning at the Chinese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Aki Maehara, 71, was riding his electric bicycle in Montebello, 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles, on April 29 when he says he heard a driver yell a racial slur. Maehara says a car then struck him and the driver fled. He was hospitalized with a concussion, neck injury, cheek bone fracture and bruises and swelling up and down his body. Maehara, who is Japanese American, teaches a course on the history of racism in the U.S. at East Los Angeles College. The Montebello Police Department is investigating.
Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Southern Poverty Law Center to release annual report on hate and extremism
The Southern Poverty Law Center is expected to release its annual report Thursday on white nationalist, neo-Nazi and anti-government extremist group activity in the United States. The Hate & Extremism Report will identify the number of active hate groups in 2024 and how that compares to previous years. It will also look at anti-government group trends. The law center based in Montgomery, Alabama, tracks racism, xenophobia and far-right militias. Last year's report found 'record numbers' of white nationalist and anti-LGBTQ groups in 2023. The analysis highlighted how far-right groups tried to waylay democracy through disinformation, false conspiracy theories and threats to election workers. It also examined how supporters of Christian supremacy used similar topics to organize a movement toward authoritarianism. The SPLC is a liberal advocacy organization that, besides monitoring hate groups, files lawsuits over justice issues and offers educational programs to counter prejudice. Frequently criticized by conservatives as biased, the nonprofit has faced lawsuits for its designation of some organizations as hate groups. The report's release comes as a Los Angeles college professor makes his first public appearance since he was severely injured in a hit and run that he reported as a hate crime. He is scheduled to speak Thursday morning at the Chinese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Aki Maehara, 71, was riding his electric bicycle in Montebello, 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles, on April 29 when he says he heard a driver yell a racial slur. Maehara says a car then struck him and the driver fled. He was hospitalized with a concussion, neck injury, cheek bone fracture and bruises and swelling up and down his body. Maehara, who is Japanese American, teaches a course on the history of racism in the U.S. at East Los Angeles College. The Montebello Police Department is investigating. Photos of his injuries posted to a GoFundMe page have been shared multiple times on social media with users calling for hate crime charges. The crowdsourcing campaign has raised almost $77,000 for Maehara.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Southern Poverty Law Center to release annual report on hate and extremism
The Southern Poverty Law Center is expected to release its annual report Thursday on white nationalist, neo-Nazi and anti-government extremist group activity in the United States. The Hate & Extremism Report will identify the number of active hate groups in 2024 and how that compares to previous years. It will also look at anti-government group trends. The law center based in Montgomery, Alabama, tracks racism, xenophobia and far-right militias. Last year's report found 'record numbers' of white nationalist and anti-LGBTQ groups in 2023. The analysis highlighted how far-right groups tried to waylay democracy through disinformation, false conspiracy theories and threats to election workers. It also examined how supporters of Christian supremacy used similar topics to organize a movement toward authoritarianism. The SPLC is a liberal advocacy organization that, besides monitoring hate groups, files lawsuits over justice issues and offers educational programs to counter prejudice. Frequently criticized by conservatives as biased, the nonprofit has faced lawsuits for its designation of some organizations as hate groups. The report's release comes as a Los Angeles college professor makes his first public appearance since he was severely injured in a hit and run that he reported as a hate crime. He is scheduled to speak Thursday morning at the Chinese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Aki Maehara, 71, was riding his electric bicycle in Montebello, 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles, on April 29 when he says he heard a driver yell a racial slur. Maehara says a car then struck him and the driver fled. He was hospitalized with a concussion, neck injury, cheek bone fracture and bruises and swelling up and down his body. Maehara, who is Japanese American, teaches a course on the history of racism in the U.S. at East Los Angeles College. The Montebello Police Department is investigating. Photos of his injuries posted to a GoFundMe page have been shared multiple times on social media with users calling for hate crime charges. The crowdsourcing campaign has raised almost $77,000 for Maehara.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Southern Poverty Law Center to release annual report on hate and extremism
The Southern Poverty Law Center is expected to release its annual report Thursday on white nationalist, neo-Nazi and anti-government extremist group activity in the United States. The Hate & Extremism Report will identify the number of active hate groups in 2024 and how that compares to previous years. It will also look at anti-government group trends. The law center based in Montgomery, Alabama, tracks racism, xenophobia and far-right militias. Last year's report found 'record numbers' of white nationalist and anti-LGBTQ groups in 2023. The analysis highlighted how far-right groups tried to waylay democracy through disinformation, false conspiracy theories and threats to election workers. It also examined how supporters of Christian supremacy used similar topics to organize a movement toward authoritarianism. The SPLC is a liberal advocacy organization that, besides monitoring hate groups, files lawsuits over justice issues and offers educational programs to counter prejudice. Frequently criticized by conservatives as biased, the nonprofit has faced lawsuits for its designation of some organizations as hate groups. The report's release comes as a Los Angeles college professor makes his first public appearance since he was severely injured in a hit and run that he reported as a hate crime. He is scheduled to speak Thursday morning at the Chinese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Aki Maehara, 71, was riding his electric bicycle in Montebello, 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles, on April 29 when he says he heard a driver yell a racial slur. Maehara says a car then struck him and the driver fled. He was hospitalized with a concussion, neck injury, cheek bone fracture and bruises and swelling up and down his body. Maehara, who is Japanese American, teaches a course on the history of racism in the U.S. at East Los Angeles College. The Montebello Police Department is investigating. Photos of his injuries posted to a GoFundMe page have been shared multiple times on social media with users calling for hate crime charges. The crowdsourcing campaign has raised almost $77,000 for Maehara.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Japanese American professor who lectures on racism is targeted in racist attack
[Source] A 71-year-old Japanese American professor who teaches about racism was deliberately struck by a vehicle while cycling in Montebello, California, in what authorities are investigating as a potential hate crime. Racist assault: Aki Maehara, a Vietnam War veteran, was riding his electric bicycle near his home at around 10 p.m. on April 29 when a sedan approached rapidly from behind. The driver allegedly shouted racial slurs before striking him. 'I heard someone yell, 'F'g chink!' as I got hit, then I heard, 'Go back to chink-land,'' Maehara recalled. The driver then fled the scene, leaving him with a concussion, facial fractures, an elbow 'torn open' and extensive bruising and swelling across his upper body. Since being released from the hospital, the senior has struggled to prepare meals, bathe himself and change his bandages and bed sheets. What the victim is saying: Maehara has expressed skepticism about the attack being random, pointing out that he was wearing a helmet with a visor. 'No one can see my face. So how the hell did he know I'm Asian?' Maehara told the Los Angeles Times. The professor, who teaches Asian American history — with his own family being incarcerated during World War II — believes the incident may be connected to previous harassment he has faced at work. He specifically recalled being targeted by extremist groups, including the KKK, while teaching at East Los Angeles Community College and Cal State Long Beach. What's being done: The case is under investigation. Montebello police are seeking security footage from neighborhood residents to locate and identify the driver. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page organized by Maehara's friend, Glorya Cabrera, aims to raise funds for a professional home health aide who can help him with daily tasks as he recovers. Additionally, advocates have launched a petition demanding a thorough hate crime investigation, potential federal involvement and public condemnation from officials. Trending on NextShark: This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
