SPLC notes uptick in hate, extremist groups in 2015

On the other end of the political spectrum, black separatist groups advocating anti-Semitic views grew to 180 chapters a year ago, up from 113 in 2014, according to the SPLC. Potok explained this dual surge was likely sparked by last year’s public debate over the Confederate flag in SC, which stewed controversy throughout the American Southeast and resulted in 364 pro-Confederate flag rallies in 26 different states, according to the SPLC.

“The bulk of that anger is coming from beleaguered working class and, to a lesser extent, middle-class white people, especially the less educated – the very same groups that most vociferously support [Republican presidential candidate Donald] Trump”, Potok wrote.

“It was a year marked by very high levels of political violence, enormous rage in the electorate and a real significant growth in hate groups”, said Mark Potok, author of the report.

23, 2010 picture shows the Denver Unit of the National Socialist Movement, which have adopted one mile of southbound U.S. Highway 85, south of Bromley Lane, in Brighton, Colo.

The SPLC defines hate groups as organizations that attack people based on central characteristics such as race, sexual orientation and religion.

The explosion in so-called hate groups across the U.S. in 2015 has been attributed in part to anger over Latino immigration and the fact that whites are estimated to no longer be the majority by 2040.

He also said that he doesn’t expect the unprecedented wave of anti-Muslim violence now sweeping the country to subside any time soon, saying, “We expect [it] to get worse, not better”.

SPLC leaders said that, following intense criticism, they determined that while some might consider Carson’s statements on gay marriage and other issues extreme, he should not have been branded an extremist. Some of its targets, however, contend the civil rights advocacy group is focused on silencing conservative viewpoints — sometimes with serious consequences. The group’s endowment fund was worth more than $302 million in October 2015 and it reported roughly $338 million in total assets. A map of the state’s hate groups can be found at https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map.

“The Southern Poverty Law Center was born, and still lives today, to essentially defend the 14th Amendment”, Potok said, referring to the amendment that guarantees citizens of all races equal protection under the law. He pointed to white supremacist Dylann Roof, noting that the man who murdered nine African American churchgoers in Charleston last summer was not a member of any known hate group – but was known to frequent the websites of white supremacist groups.

“As far as we can tell, he was completely radicalized online”, she said.

The number of such groups – counted separately from hate groups – rose from 874 in 2014 to 998 past year.