The Southern Poverty Law Center – IOTW Report

The Southern Poverty Law Center

SPLC-

What is a hate group?

The organizations on our hate group list vilify others because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity – prejudices that strike at the heart of our democratic values and fracture society along its most fragile fault lines.

Does violence play a role in designating hate group?

Vilifying or demonizing groups of people on the basis of their immutable characteristics, such as race or ethnicity, often inspires or is a precursor to violence. But violence itself is not a requirement for being listed as a hate group.

Conversely, there are some violent groups that are not hate groups. For example, we do not list racist prison gangs as hate groups, because their goals are primarily criminal, not ideological.

Does the SPLC list any far-left hate groups?

Our goal is to identify all U.S.-based groups that meet our definition of a hate group regardless of whether one would think of the group as being on the left or the right. One can always debate whether a group should be considered “left” or “right.” The Nation of Islam, which we list for its anti-Semitism and vilification of white people, is a case in point. Another example is Jamaat al-Muslimeen – a Muslim group we list because of its vilification of Jews and the LGBT community. But, as a general matter, prejudice on the basis of factors such as race is more prevalent on the far right than it is on the far left.

This does not mean that extremism and violence on the far left are not concerns. But groups that engage in anti-fascist violence (antifa), for example, differ from hate groups in that they are not typically organized around bigotry against people based on the characteristics listed above.

Why doesn’t the SPLC list antifa as a hate group?

The SPLC condemns violence in all its forms, including the violent acts of far-left street movements like antifa (short for anti-fascist). But the propensity for violence, though present in many hate groups, is not among the criteria for listing. Also, antifa groups do not promote hatred based on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity (see criteria above).

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According to the SPLC I can create a group that’s sole purpose is to target ANTIFA for violence.

If I form the antiantifa brigade and set out to beat the snot out of them wherever they show up, because I hate them, my organization wouldn’t be listed as a hate group.

Somehow I doubt that.

9 Comments on The Southern Poverty Law Center

  1. “Also, antifa groups do not promote hatred based on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity (see criteria above).”
    Except for when they chant death to whitey, assault people and threaten authorities.
    But other than that, they’re harmless kids.

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  2. Some Sports Entertainment to keep an eye on. ANTIFA says they are going to be present out side the court house during General Flynn’s sentencing. The Oath Keepers have said they also plan on showing up in mass to counter any violence by ANTIFA. Could be fun.

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  3. antifa is a fascist group rather than a hate group (the *anti-fascist* part of their name an obvious reference to the original German group in the 1930s). Since they primarily simply hate anyone who does not comply with their wishes SPLC gives them a pass. The ‘death to whitey’ is just one of their chants so less relevant. And actually I think they are more interested in the violence than in a particular agenda. Am I doing this right?

    SPLC is on organization that has learned there is money to be made in polarizing views. See also: Michael Moore, Barack 0bama, Kamala Harris, and to be fair (although not as extreme, in my view) Ann Coulter, Hannity, O’Reilly.

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  4. I’m with Left Coast Dan on this. And it needs to be remembered that SPLC is primarily a money making organization for Morris Dees and its other millionaire execs. Anything they do beyond making $$ big bucks is secondary. Kinda like the Clinton Foundation.

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  5. We have been forced to mention some marxists to save ourselves from the trial hell that we visit upon others. Only a coincidence that those marxists haven’t given us enough money.

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  6. @Bad_Brad December 8, 2018 at 1:13 pm

    > are going to be present out side the court house during General Flynn’s sentencing. The Oath Keepers have said they also plan on showing up

    Ein Party! Über alles!

    About time. They don’t smell swampy, at all.

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