The Year in Hate-Number of Hate Groups Tops 900

The Year in Hate
Number of Hate Groups Tops 900
By David Holthouse


Illustration by Sean McCabe


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.

As in recent years, hate groups were animated by the national immigration debate. But two new forces also drove them in 2008: the worsening recession, and Barack Obama's successful campaign to become the nation's first black president. Officials reported that Obama had received more threats than any other presidential candidate in memory, and several white supremacists were arrested for saying they would assassinate him or allegedly plotting to do so.

At the same time, law enforcement officials reported a marked swelling of the extreme-right "sovereign citizens" movement that wreaked havoc in the 1990s with its "paper terrorism" tactics. Adherents are infamous for filing bogus property liens and orchestrating elaborate financial ripoffs.

Somewhat surprisingly, it wasn't just the usual suspects from the white supremacist underworld who sought to exploit the country's economic turmoil and political strife. A key 2008 hate group trend was the increasing militancy of the extremist fringe of the Hebrew Israelite movement, whose adherents believe that Jews are creatures of the devil and that whites deserve death or slavery.

These radical black supremacists have no love for Barack Obama, calling him a "house nigger" and a puppet of Israel. They preach to inner-city blacks that evil Jews are solely responsible for the recession. 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?"

What follows is a detailed look at the three most active and dangerous white supremacist hate group sectors in 2008: Ku Klux Klan groups, neo-Nazis, and racist skinheads.

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http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1027

than to look at a situation and try to find solutions. That takes thinking and self-examination. That often means realizing that one is wrong in one's opinions and needs to change. That takes courage to be optimistic in the long-range outcome.

thinking they know nothing else. And courage, self-examination, etc., are not part of the equation.

You've got to be taught from year to year
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before its too late
Before you are six or seven or eight
To hate all the people your relatives hate
You've got to be carefully taught.

(From "South Pacific")

I find it very interesting that in Arkansas at least, a LOT of the hate groups are found in areas where the minority population is less than 2%. I think it is easier to instill the prejudices if children don't have living examples of the people they are supposed to hate around. I do think it is important, however, to treat all people with kindness and compassion, even these people--for they are used to people despising them for their prejudices, and they use that emotion to bolster their own prejudices. I know of one case where a KKK local leader left that organization because of compassion shown him and his family--by a person of color. One step at a time. It is always one step at a time.

that all these hate groups seemed to be OK with George Bush and his administration.


There are some people I just wouldn't want to have a good opinion of me...