Number of U.S. Hate Groups Is Rising, Report Says

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times

Number of U.S. Hate Groups Is Rising, Report Says
By KIM SEVERSON
Published: March 7, 2012

ATLANTA — Fed by antagonism toward President Obama, resentment toward changing racial demographics and the economic rift between rich and poor, the number of so-called hate groups and antigovernment organizations in the nation has continued to grow, according to a report released Wednesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The center, which has kept track of such groups for 30 years, recorded 1,018 hate groups operating last year.

The number of groups whose ideology is organized against specific racial, religious, sexual or other characteristics has risen steadily since 2000, when 602 were identified, the center said. Antigay groups, for example, have risen to 27 from 17 in 2010.

The report also described a “stunning” rise in the number of groups it identifies as part of the so-called patriot and militia movements, whose ideologies include deep distrust of the federal government.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/us/number-of-us-hate-groups-on-the-rise-report-says.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[BootinUp]

1. Ok, not so good. But would you look at that jobs report!

nt

[lonestarnot]

2. Racist idjits.

[SunSeeker]

3. Yeah, but it's getting harder for them to keep sponsors! nt

[xtraxritical]

4. Heh, heh, droll.

[nanabugg]

13. Nice!!!

[Quantess]

5. The grand plan is working!

The handful of people who control everything have succeeded tremendously so far.

The evil genius plan:
Make everyone poorer and get the lower classes to fight amongst each other, while the astonomically wealthy elite ruling class escapes with all the money.

Rinse, lather, repeat.

[my2sense]

15. +1

[FiveGoodMen]

16. +2

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Doesn't surprise me in the least.

There are so many things in the news recently for bigots to focus their hatred.

[dipsydoodle]

7. Hate is wasted energy

[pampango]

17. But seems to be a default condition for some. When in doubt, hate.

It may not solve your problems, but it makes you feel like you're better than someone.

Rather than examine why their life is in the dumps (and take political action to correct the cause of the problem), the far-right takes solace in finding someone whom they can hate and, presumably, feel superior to.

Hate is, indeed, a waste of energy. Some people just mature thinking that is the only acceptable reaction to frustration.

[marmar]

8. Notice how the NYT attempts to smear Occupy in the story.

nt

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Or maybe they were trying to show, despite best efforts of the right, it isn't a hate group?

[marmar]

10. Perhaps, but I just don't see how Occupy even warranted a mention in this story.

nt

[Behind the Aegis]

11. Email the author.

There is the possibility, given the tea-party and others claiming Occupy is a hate group(anti-government), this person was trying to show it wasn't. It is just as possible that odious reasons, as you suggested, were also involved.

[onehandle]

12. The Tea Party is by far, the largest. Right?

With all the press coverage they get, they have to be larger than their predecessor, the Klan.

[onlyadream]

14. Could it just be the age of the internet?

Since 2000, the internete presence has dramatically increased, not to mention the addition of the social networks. It's very easy, today, to start a group.