Hate Groups on the Rise

Too often the general public seems utterly unaware of the amount of seething hatred that continues to swirl around within the United States. Many Americans do not realize that they may unknowingly be the targets of organizations that raise money and disseminate lies based solely on bigotry due to one's racial background, religious beliefs, country of origin, or sexual orientation. Fortunately, the Southern Poverty Law Center ("SPLC") tracks active hate groups and tries to inform the public about the activities of such groups. What is alarming is that the number of hate groups has increased 54% since 2000. Twenty six are based in Virginia with four operating out of Hampton Roads (California takes the prize for the most groups at 84). All hate groups have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics. A list compiled using hate group publications and websites and citizen and law enforcement reports can be found here. Here are some highlights from SPLC's special report:

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From white power skinheads decrying "President Obongo" at a racist gathering in rural Missouri, to neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klansmen hurling epithets at Latino immigrants from courthouse steps in Oklahoma, to anti-Semitic black separatists calling for death to Jews on bustling street corners in several East Coast cities, hate group activity in the U.S. was disturbing and widespread throughout 2008, as the number of hate groups operating in America continued to rise. Last year, 926 hate groups were active in the U.S., up more than 4% from 888 in 2007. That's more than a 50% increase since 2000, when there were 602 groups.

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The rhetoric of white-skinned hate group leaders in 2008 was equally alarming. Last September, for example the cover of National Socialist magazine depicted then-presidential nominee Barack Obama in the crosshairs of a scope, with the headline "Kill This Nigger?"

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In terms of anti-gay hate groups, SPLC also has some disturbing data on twelve different organizations. The largest of the anti-gay hate groups is the Traditional Values Coalition. Other fairly widely known hate groups are Mass Resistance and the Illinois Family Institute. Not included as "hate groups" - at least so far - are Focus on the Family, Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America even though their tactics are similar and they often repeat the same untruths. Columnist Leonard Pitts has a take on the rise in hate groups that is worth reading. Here are some highlights:

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The answer is that we are a nation where a Jew serves as senator from Connecticut, a Muslim serves as representative from Minnesota, a Hispanic is governor of New Mexico and a black man is president. Because if those things strike you as signs of progress, well, they are signs of apocalypse to those who believe only white, male Christians are fit to lead.But that's not the only reason for the increase. SPLC also cites the debate over illegal immigration that has dominated much of this decade.

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I imagine the SPLC findings land like cold water in the faces of those who took Barack Obama's ascension to the presidency as proof that the nation was finally cured of the sickness of hate. The truth, I'm afraid, is more nuanced than that.Maybe it helps to think in terms of alcoholism, a disease that can, with treatment, be contained, controlled, put into remission — but never cured.

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Hate is something like that, a fact some of us have never quite understood. Such folks are convinced there is a goal line out there somewhere which, once crossed, will allow the nation to declare itself cured. And once cured, we'll never have to grapple with hatred again.But it doesn't work that way.

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This explosion of hate is a reminder of what happens when we forget that, when we are undeservedly sanguine about how enlightened we've become. It is said that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. Well, that's the going rate for tolerance, too.