Latest news with #SPLC
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Oregon hatred and beyond
A Pride flag, Oregon flag and U.S. flag rest on a desk in the Oregon Capitol. (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) The 2000 report on hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center showed five hate groups active in Oregon. Its 2024 counterpart report just released this month found 24. The difference is a matter of apples and oranges between these reports, which reflects a changing landscape in the area of extremism and hate groups. The SPLC's traditional focus on hate groups — it started as an anti-racist tracker and researcher, after all — has been expanded to include groups more devoted to relatively extreme positions on various cultural and political issues. Inclusion of anti-government groups, as distinct from groups more specifically focused on race, religion or other identifiers, has changed and even muddied the picture. Oregon's experience — as the new report shows — suggests how. Hate groups have been a factor in Oregon for a long time. The state's early founders included many sympathizers with the Confederacy, and a century ago, Oregon was the number two state in the nation for Ku Klux Klan activity. It has been more notable in recent decades for pushback against bigotry, but hatred has not disappeared. The SPLC long has been a national touchstone for tracking angry extremist groups. It said its current report 'documented 1,371 hate and anti-government extremist groups across the United States. These groups use political, communication, violent, and online tactics to build strategies and training infrastructure to divide the country, demoralize people, and dismantle democracy.' They're not all exactly 'hate groups,' however. A minority of the groups were labeled as anti-immigrant (Oregonians for Immigration Reform), anti-LGBTQ (Pacific Justice Institute), 'general hate' (Proud Boys and Rense Radio Network), Neo-Völkisch (Asatru Folk Assembly), and white nationalist (Active Club, Occidental Observer, Patriot Front). The Asatru Folk Assembly formerly was called the Viking Brotherhood. But the real growth has been in the anti-government category. The SPLC categorizes more than half of those listed in Oregon as anti-government (American Patriot Party, ASN Study Guide & University, American State Nationals, Constitution Party, Embassy of Heaven, Moms for Liberty Deschutes and Douglas, Oregon Parents Involved in Education, Oregon Statewide Jural Assembly, Parents Rights in Education Oregon, People's Rights, State of Jefferson, American State Assembly, Timber Unity). In 2000, of the five extremist groups listed for Oregon, three were neo-Nazi and two were racist-skinhead. In 2012, the nine groups cited for Oregon included white nationalist, Christian identity, Black separatist, neo-Nazi, racist skinhead and general hate, but none described as principally anti-government. Even as those groups steadily expanded over successive years, to 15 in 2021, no anti-government groups were listed. Since 2021, the number of groups other than 'anti-government' has diminished or stabilized. The makeup of the list changed dramatically in 2022, and has remained so. The previous roster of hate groups remained similar but diminished slightly, while in 2022 a large group of anti-government groups were added. You can find similar trends in other states. SPLC said of that, 'For the last several years, the conspiracy theories and claims made by anti-government groups have penetrated the mainstream, making extremism and fascism central to discourse and politics in the country. In 2021, the conspiratorial and dubious view of government was pervasive, as evidenced by the movement's popular rhetoric on such issues as COVID-19 regulations, local school curriculum, the 'Big Lie' of voter fraud, and border security. These views largely continued in 2024, but with a marked and troubling rise in anti-government activity against inclusive public schools and the continued incorporation of white Christian nationalist ideas. The Jan. 6 insurrection was the most public moment for the movement since the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.' Many Oregonians will point out that however extreme some positions taken by some of these groups may be, many are largely political actors, such as Moms for Liberty, Timber Unity and the State of Jefferson. The Constitution Party is a political organization in Oregon and many other states, fields candidates and argues for policies recognizably within our political system. One of those listed for Oregon in recent years is not an organization but rather a podcast, or bundle of podcasts, based at Ashland, called the Rense Radio Network. There's a clear argument for tracking extremist groups, which can in some cases make cause with hate groups. But they still aren't quite the same thing. So what should count as a hate group? When does a political stance — albeit a harder-edged and more extreme one — slide over into something that fits more neatly with hatred and bigotry? And should the two be meshed together with only categorical distinctions? Maybe the SPLC will come up with some new thoughts by the time its 2025 report comes out. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hate group numbers dipped because their beliefs became mainstream, new report warns
[Source] While the number of hate and extremist groups in the U.S. decreased slightly in 2024, a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) claims the decline reflects the growing mainstreaming of their ideologies — not a reduction in their influence. According to the SPLC's annual 'Year in Hate and Extremism' report, released May 22, the total number of active hate and anti-government groups dropped by 5% to 1,371. However, the organization warns that many extremists now feel less need to organize separately, as their views are increasingly echoed in government policies and political rhetoric. Entering the mainstream 'After years of courting politicians and chasing power, hard-right groups are now fully infiltrating our politics and enacting their dangerous ideology into law,' said Margaret Huang, SPLC president and CEO. Trending on NextShark: The report cites the adoption of anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment into state legislation as examples of extremist positions becoming normalized. As these ideas gain traction within political institutions, some former hate groups have disbanded or become less visible, according to the SPLC. Anti-government and male supremacist groups While the overall number of hate groups declined, the report found a rise in anti-government extremist organizations, which increased to 838 in 2024. These groups, which include militias and self-identified sovereign citizens, often characterize the federal government as oppressive and illegitimate. Trending on NextShark: The SPLC also noted a surge in male supremacist groups, which grew to 16 last year. These groups espouse misogynistic ideologies and strict gender hierarchies. The report links their increased visibility to political developments during the 2024 election cycle, including the candidacy of Kamala Harris. 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. Trending on NextShark: 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. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
At least 13 extremist groups were active in WV in 2024, per the Southern Poverty Law Center
The map shows the locations across the United States of organizations considered by the Southern Poverty Law Center to be hate groups or extremists. (SPLC graphic) At least 13 organizations espousing hateful, extreme or antigovernment rhetoric were active in West Virginia in 2024, according to a report issued last week by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Per the SPLC's 2024 Year in Hate and Extremism report, eight of those groups were local while five were considered to be active statewide. The groups vary from neo-nazi and white supremacist groups to organizations that are generally anti-government and militias. The SPLC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing civil rights across the South and the wider United States. Since 2000, the organization has mapped and identified extremist groups across the country while researching how their ideologies can, and often do, influence policy making. The groups identified as extremist by the SPLC that were active in West Virginia in 2024 are: The Constitution Party of West Virginia, a far-right, small-government focused political party that in 2024 succeeded in getting a gubernatorial candidate, former state delegate S. Marshall Wilson, on the ballot for the general election The Kanawha County chapter of Moms For Liberty, a local arm of the national nonprofit that gained attention by being at the forefront of book-banning movements. The group has advocated against education on systemic racism and has peddled anti-LGBTQ misinformation. Moms For Liberty has pushed back against being labeled an extremist hate group as classified by the SPLC The National Constitutional Coalition of Patriotic Americans, an antigovernment group based in Bridgeport, per the SPLC. A Taylor County chapter of the organization is also listed among active extremist groups in West Virginia The First West Virginia Volunteer Mountain Infantry, a militia based in Huntington Folkish Active Clubs West Virginia, a neo-nazi organization considered to be active statewide The Asatru Folk Assembly West Virginia, a statewide Neo-Volkisch organization that, per the SPLC, is characterized by 'organized ethnocentricity and archaic notions of gender' The Appalachia Active Club, a white nationalist organization considered to be active statewide Full Haus, a white nationalist organization in Purgitsville. Per its website, supporters of Full Haus want a white ethnostate and traditional gender roles Patriot Front, a white nationalist extremist group considered to be active across West Virginia. In 2024, dozens of members of Patriot Front — carrying fascistic symbols and face coverings to hide their identity — marched through downtown Charleston on a Saturday afternoon The VDARE Foundation, a white nationalist organization located in Berkeley Springs that espouses myriad of racist and anti-immigrant views and conspiracy theories, including the 'great replacement theory' Mountain State Contingency Group, a statewide militia According to the SPLC, there was one more hate or extremist group active in West Virginia in 2024 compared to 2023. Several of the groups listed in 2023 — mostly militias and white nationalist groups — were not on the 2024 report. Nationwide, the number of hate and extremist groups identified by the SPLC is declining. Last week's report showed an almost 5% decline in the number of hate and antigovernment groups operating from 2023 to 2024. But on a call with reporters upon the report's release, representatives for the SPLC said that trend is not encouraging. Instead, it is likely the result of far-right extremism becoming more mainstream in otherwise accepted groups and movements. 'After years of courting politicians and chasing power, hard-right groups are now fully infiltrating our politics and enacting their dangerous ideology into law,' said Margaret Huang, president of the SPLC. 'Extremists at all levels of government are using cruelty, chaos and constant attacks on communities and our democracy to make us feel powerless.'XX SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Japan Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Hate groups in U.S. decline but their influence grows
By TERRY TANG The number of white nationalist, hate and anti-government groups around the U.S. dropped slightly in 2024, not because of any shrinking influence but rather the opposite. Many feel their beliefs, which includes racist narratives and so-called Christian persecution, have become more normalized in government and mainstream discourse. In its annual Year in Hate and Extremism report, released Thursday, the Southern Poverty Law Center said it counted 1,371 hate and extremist groups, a 5% decline. The nonprofit group attributes this to a lesser sense of urgency to organize because their beliefs have infiltrated politics, education and society in general. Some of the ways they have done this are through pushing for bans on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, book bans and protests of drag story hours, the report says. Last year, there were 533 active hate groups. These include groups who express views that are anti-LBGTQ+, anti-immigrant, antisemitic and anti-Muslim. This number has been steadily declining since reaching a historic high of 1,021 in 2018. 'The trends have slightly sort of gone up and down but let's just say generally, since our tracking, have increased. And that's not just on a total numbers level but also on a per capita,' said Rachel Carroll Rivas, interim director of the SPLC's Intelligence Project. The number of anti-government groups last year totaled 838, an increase from recent years, according to the law center based in Montgomery, Alabama, that tracks racism, xenophobia and far-right militias. These groups see the federal government as 'tyrannical' and include militias and self-described sovereign citizens. Male supremacy also continues to emerge as an influential hate group. The SPLC documented seven new male supremacist hate groups, making the total 16. Their rhetoric espouses misogyny and strict gender roles. Their rising influence came during an election year when the country saw a woman of color be the first presidential nominee for a major political party. 'I'm not sure it's a direct result of the candidacy of Kamala Harris,' Rivas said. However, SPLC researchers went into chatrooms of white supremacist organizations during the election and found 'intense vilification, the claiming of demonization of Harris as well as just the pushing of the idea falsely that women would not be qualified.' Some people on the far right have also pushed a belief that white Christian culture is being threatened by a 'demographic crisis' including fewer births. 'Politicians, pundits and provocateurs on the right have turned toward demonic language to tar those who disagree with them,' the report states. 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 made an appearance in front of media and supporters a few weeks after he was severely injured in a hit and run that he reported as a hate crime. He spoke 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. He returned to the classroom last week, according to multiple outlets. 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 $80,000 for Maehara as of May 22. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Elon Musk slams SPLC for labelling Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA a ‘hate group'
Elon Musk has called the non-profit Southern Poverty Law Center a 'scam organization' after it included MAGA activist Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA on its signature 'Hate Map' and branded it 'an anti-government extremist group.' Kirk's Arizona-based collective was founded in 2012 and considers itself 'the largest and fastest-growing' conservative grassroots organization in the United States. It boasts a presence on 'over 3,500 campuses' nationwide. It has long been associated with President Donald Trump, who has regularly delivered speeches to its gatherings. But the SPLC's inclusion of TPUSA on the map places it in the same company as regional chapters of the Ku Klux Klan and other far-right, neo-Nazi and Islamophobic organizations. Kirk, 31, who is currently on a speaking tour of the United Kingdom and last week addressed the Oxford Union, responded angrily in a lengthy post on X by calling the SPLC's move 'a cheap smear from a washed-up org that's been fleecing scared grandmas for decades.' He continued: 'They somehow still rake in over $100 million a year peddling their 'hate map' nonsense, sitting pretty in their Montgomery 'Poverty Palace' while crying about 'hate' to line their pockets. Even former staffers called their racket a 'con.' 'Their game plan? Scare financial institutions into debanking us, pressure schools to cancel us, and demonize us so some unhinged lunatic feels justified targeting us. Remember the Family Research Council? An SPLC-inspired gunman went after them. They'd love nothing more than to see TPUSA in the crosshairs.' Kirk concluded his rant by claiming that 'nobody with a functioning brain buys their garbage anymore' and branding the SPLC 'a laughingstock, a hollowed-out husk of an organization that's been exposed as a grift time and time again' and fuming: 'They're not just irrelevant – they're a cautionary tale of how to torch your own credibility.' The world's richest man reacted to Kirk's post by declaring, 'SPLC is a scam organization. " Kirk replied enthusiastically with two 100 percent emojis, signaling his agreement. The Independent has contacted the SPLC for its response to Kirk's attack. In an essay accompanying the latest instalment of its annual 'Year in Hate and Extremism' report, published alongside the map, the legal advocacy group describes the TPUSA as 'a well-funded, hard-right organization with links to Southern Poverty Law Center-identified hard-right extremists' with 'a tremendous amount of influence in conservative politics.' It continues: 'Turning Point USA's primary strategy is sowing and exploiting fear that white Christian supremacy is under attack by nefarious actors, including immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community and civil rights activists. 'TPUSA and its spokespeople often warn their audience that their children, wives, religion, way of life and they themselves are under attack by various constructed enemies [and] exploits complicated feelings of insecurity and anxiety to manufacture rage and mobilize support to revive and maintain a white-dominated, male supremacist, Christian social order.'
