Hate groups in the US show explosive growth

[Skybird]

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/us-hate-groups-top-1000


The number of active hate groups in the United States topped 1,000 for the first time and the antigovernment “Patriot” movement expanded dramatically for the second straight year as the radical right showed continued explosive growth in 2010.

Several factors fueled the growth: 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.

But the most dramatic growth in the radical right came in the antigovernment “Patriot” movement. These conspiracy-minded organizations, which see the federal government as their primary enemy, grew by 61 percent over the previous year. Their numbers increased to 824 groups in 2010, from 512 groups a year earlier. Previously, the only higher count of Patriot groups came in 1996, during the movement’s heyday, when the SPLC found 858 groups. Militias, the paramilitary arm of the Patriot movement, grew from 127 groups to 330 – a 160 percent increase.
http://www.heise.de/bilder/149338/0/0

“Nativist extremist” groups – organizations that go beyond mere advocacy of restrictive immigration policy to actually confront or harass suspected undocumented immigrants or their employers – saw their numbers increase by 3 percent, from 309 groups to 319.

Taken together, these three strands of the radical right – hate groups, nativist extremist groups and Patriot organizations – increased from 1,753 groups in 2009 to 2,145 in 2010, a 22 percent rise. That followed a 2008-09 increase of 40 percent.

What was it that happened in 2008...

[the_tyrant]

What was it that happened in 2008...

Obama got elected

[Growler]

Source is decidedly leftist.

What about left-leaning groups like ACLU, NAACP, NOW? They retain just as much of their influence - if they don't have MORE - as they did ten years ago. Are they not a threat to law and order?

I'm not saying the "Patriot" groups are any better - or any worse. What I'm saying is, there's cause/causes to celebrate - and deride - any political group in this country that takes itself way too seriously, and in so doing, screws things up for the rest of us.

[August]

Interesting way of counting they got there.

In New York alone The nazis are counted three times as are the klan. :zzz:The Nation of Islam (they're the "Radical Right?" :doh:) is also counted three times as is that other bastion of Radical Rightness, the National Black Foot Soldier Network :dead:. They even count the radical Catholics three times.

Then they count the nazi womens auxillary as a separate group, their hate literature publishers as a separate group. their trust fund providers as a separate group.

Do you see a pattern here?

The Southern Poverty Law Center, bless their little liberal hearts, mongers fear for their funding in much the same way that the NRA does. The more dire the threat the more they collect in donations.

[Freiwillige]

Yea it always worried me that these private special interest groups have a hand in Washington teaching politicians who the real bad guys are as if our own FBI/CIA/Police/ATF cant figure these things out.:nope:

[Tribesman]

Interesting way of counting they got there.
Yeah they count all the local groups as groups even if there is another branch of the group. so 4 locally based neo nazi groups counts as 4 groups even though they are all neo nazis.
The proper way to count is to forget local and state distinctions and go national.
We are pleased to announce there is only 1 neo nazi group in the US.

The Nation of Islam (they're the "Radical Right?" :doh:)
Yes very radical right, crazy religiously conservative fundamentalist racists with strange patriotism and identity "values".

They even count the radical Catholics three times.

They was going to count four, but Mel Gibson had decided against the move as he thinks there are too many jews in liberal NY

[NeonSamurai]

As Tribesman pointed out, They seem to be counting different branches separately, which I think is fair if you are trying to map how much hate groups are spreading/growing as they are unlikely to give you a member's count. Also they are counting all intolerant groups that spread a message of hate of someone or something. I would also certainly include publishers of hate texts as separate entities, as they often are associated with many different groups.

The only way I would see an issue with their counting scheme is if they have changed the way they do the counting, and did not properly update previous counts so as to inflate the changes.

[Tchocky]

Another thing that happened in 2008 was the onset of severe economic distress for many people.
This is the kind of environment that spurs on extremism.

[tater]

Nation of Islam members vote virtually 10% democrat.

Being a religious nut doesn't make a group "right," just "crazy."

Shouldn't they be counting membership, not "groups?"

[Gerald]

I would not in any way reduce the credibility of this "measurement" or information if you like, but you should Observe caution in interpreting its results often based on other references.

[August]

As Tribesman pointed out, They seem to be counting different branches separately, which I think is fair if you are trying to map how much hate groups are spreading/growing as they are unlikely to give you a member's count. Also they are counting all intolerant groups that spread a message of hate of someone or something. I would also certainly include publishers of hate texts as separate entities, as they often are associated with many different groups.

The only way I would see an issue with their counting scheme is if they have changed the way they do the counting, and did not properly update previous counts so as to inflate the changes.

I didn't read what Tribesman pointed out but you bet that nobody is giving member counts, on either side.

Really it's nothing but an accounting trick played by both the counters and those being counted. No, you don't have one group of 10 people you have 10 groups of undetermined size. Sounds scarier. It helps the SPLC get funding and it makes the hate group seem far larger and therefore more relevant than they really are. Win - win.

[tater]

I assume everyone has seen Life of Brian...

"We're the National Patriot Militia! The only thing we hate more than minorities is the National Militia of Patriots!" (where both groups have 2 members—it was a 4 member, single group until Obama was elected, then they disagreed on whether to call the President a Muslim, or a monkey, hence the violent split).

[August]

I assume everyone has seen Life of Brian...

"We're the National Patriot Militia! The only thing we hate more than minorities is the National Militia of Patriots!" (where both groups have 2 members—it was a 4 member, single group until Obama was elected, then they disagreed on whether to call the President a Muslim, or a monkey, hence the violent split).


Emo Phillips does a comedy routine like that:


Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don't do it!" He said, "Nobody loves me." I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?"
He said, "Yes." I said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew?" He said, "A Christian." I said, "Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me, too! What franchise?" He said, "Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?" He said, "Northern Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?"
He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region." I said, "Me, too!"
Northern Conservative†Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912." I said, "Die, heretic!" And I pushed him over.

[nikimcbee]

Does the list include the SEIU, AFL-CIO, IEBW. They all seem to be pretty active now.:D

[Growler]

Again, the issue boils down to ignorance of the causes of the problems while throwing stupidly large amounts of money at fixing/addressing symptoms.

SPLC spent money to produce that report, money which they will need to replace... so, if they can lean the report more towards a way that makes it look like they're providing a vital national security service, that cash flow'll be a'comin' on in.

[NeonSamurai]

I didn't read what Tribesman pointed out but you bet that nobody is giving member counts, on either side.

Really it's nothing but an accounting trick played by both the counters and those being counted. No, you don't have one group of 10 people you have 10 groups of undetermined size. Sounds scarier. It helps the SPLC get funding and it makes the hate group seem far larger and therefore more relevant than they really are. Win - win.

I assume everyone has seen Life of Brian...

"We're the National Patriot Militia! The only thing we hate more than minorities is the National Militia of Patriots!" (where both groups have 2 members—it was a 4 member, single group until Obama was elected, then they disagreed on whether to call the President a Muslim, or a monkey, hence the violent split).

While I do not disagree with both of you, it probably is a safe bet that the numbers are increasing if the number of groups are. Particularly if they are new chapters of an already existing group (like the KKK). Problem is no one can say by how much the numbers are increasing.

[Freiwillige]

I can tell you that Neo Nazi's are a non issue, Like the lochness monster an occasional sighting but generally extinct. The groups that do exsist and protest and march are outnumbered 1,000 to 1 by protesters.
I'm just speaking about my part of the world of course but I would think it would be similar across the nation.

Its a money scam, always was always will be.

[nikimcbee]

I can tell you that Neo Nazi's are a non issue, Like the lochness monster an occasional sighting but generally extinct. The groups that do exsist and protest and march are outnumbered 1,000 to 1 by protesters.
I'm just speaking about my part of the world of course but I would think it would be similar across the nation.

Its a money scam, always was always will be.

I think the Idaho ones just keep to themselves. But you are correct, the protesters will always out number them.:yawn:

[tater]

While I do not disagree with both of you, it probably is a safe bet that the numbers are increasing if the number of groups are. Particularly if they are new chapters of an already existing group (like the KKK). Problem is no one can say by how much the numbers are increasing.

Not an unreasonable assumption, but the total membership numbers are not statistically significant. Nor are the number of people who support their views but are not members (unlike, say, double digit support numbers for Muslims towards terrorists).

[Growler]

I think the Idaho ones just keep to themselves. But you are correct, the protesters will always out number them.:yawn:

I hate Illinois Nazis.

[UnderseaLcpl]

I can tell you that Neo Nazi's are a non issue, Like the lochness monster an occasional sighting but generally extinct.


http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o264/charlie143james/grammar-nazi.jpg

Do not be so quick to discount us. :stare:

[krashkart]

I think the Idaho ones just keep to themselves. But you are correct, the protesters will always out number them.:yawn:


I haven't been back out there enough to know for sure. But I do remember when one of their compounds was bulldozed. :yeah:

[Gerald]

I hate Illinois Nazis. I also,but not Illinois!

[Armistead]

One of my uncles is in the KKK here in NC, lives about 2 hours from me. I may see him once a year at a family event. Most racist man I know. He said they've tripled in members in two years. Course he says a big civil war will soon be upon us.

I don't have a problem with anti government groups, afterall, that's how this nation got founded, but racist hate groups I deplore.

[yubba]

Worked with one of those kkk types, you should have seen the look on his face when I said too him, where I come from there are 2 types of people that have too wear hoods , which are crooks and cowards, which are you ?:har:

[Growler]

Worked with one of those kkk types, you should have seen the look on his face when I said too him, where I come from there are 2 types of people that have too wear hoods , which are crooks and cowards, which are you ?:har:

Keep your head down, lad. Jeezus, somebody's gonna nail you to a tree for mouthing off like that.

(I gotta admire your courage!:D I would have added "people they're about to hang from the neck until dead" just for giggles.)

[Sailor Steve]

My favorite neo-nazi encounter was a friendly(!) conversation with a skinhead who explained to me in great detail how and why the holocaust was a myth created by the evil lying Jews just to make Hitler look bad. Of course we've all heard the deniers tell us how it was made up, but this one kind of made my day.

Him: "The nazis didn't kill any Jews, it was all made up. The nazis would never do that."

Me: "So...what's your solution to the problem?"

Him: "Kill all the dirty lying Jews."

:doh:
:rotfl2:

[Growler]

Him: "The nazis didn't kill any Jews, it was all made up. The nazis would never do that."

Me: "So...what's your solution to the problem?"

Him: "Kill all the dirty lying Jews."

:doh:
:rotfl2:

You just can't make this up, folks.:rotfl2:

[Stealth Hunter]

One of my uncles is in the KKK here in NC, lives about 2 hours from me. I may see him once a year at a family event. Most racist man I know. He said they've tripled in members in two years. Course he says a big civil war will soon be upon us.

I don't have a problem with anti government groups, afterall, that's how this nation got founded, but racist hate groups I deplore.



http://www.stormfront.org/forum/

:haha:

Some real characters there. What I love about all the neo-Nazi and White Nationalist organizations in the United States is that they march around with swastikas, in German paramilitary uniforms of the era, shouting in German, quoting from [I]Mein Kampf, praising Adolf Hitler... yet... I have strong doubts that all of them (or for that matter even the majority of them) are anywhere close to being German- in either citizenship, if they be immigrants, or ethnic ancestry-- let alone speak the German language fluently.