Rise in Hate Groups Includes Lehigh Valley Extremists
Extremist groups are on the rise as the presidential election heats up.
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As Lehigh Valley Sikhs fear for their safety following a deadly attack at a temple in Wisconsin, a group that tracks hate groups says extremism is on the rise as the presidential election heats up.
The American radical right grew explosively in 2011, a third consecutive year of growth that has swelled the ranks of extremist groups to record levels, according to a new report issued by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a national non-profit civil rights group based in Alabama.
Anti-government “Patriot” movement groups led the expansion, according to SPLC.
While the SPLC is used as a resource by the FBI, the organization has met with criticism for expanding its definition of hate crimes.
The SPLC's "hate" map includes 34 extremists groups in Pennsylvania - four of them in the Lehigh Valley:
- Eastern Hammerskins (Racist Skinhead) - Allentown
- Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ (Black Separatist) - Allentown
- National Socialist Movement (Neo-Nazi) - Lehigh Valley
- Poker Face (Racist Music) - Allentown (The band has denied the report's findings to Patch.)
“The dramatic expansion of the radical right is the result of our country's changing racial demographics, the increased pace of globalization, and our economic woes,” said Mark Potok, senior fellow at the SPLC and editor of the new report.
“For many extremists, President Obama is the new symbol of all that's wrong with the country - the Kenyan president, the secret Muslim who is causing our country's decline,” Potok said. “The election season's overheated political rhetoric is adding fuel to the fire. The more polarized the political scene, the more people at the extremes.”
Many Americans are enraged by what they see as America's decline, and opportunistic politicians have done their best to stoke those fears and demonize President Obama in the process. For some, the prospect of four more years under the country's first black president also is an infuriating reminder that non-Hispanic whites will lose their majority in this country by 2050.
The SPLC report details the growth of hate groups to a record 1,018 in 2011, up from 1,002 the year before and the latest in a series of increases going back more than a decade. But the dramatic growth came in the Patriot movement, which is composed of armed militias and other conspiracy-minded organizations that see the federal government as their primary enemy. These groups saw their numbers skyrocket for the third straight year in 2011, this time by 55 percent - from 824 in 2010 to 1,274 groups last year. In 2008, just before the Patriot movement took off, there were 149 Patriot groups, a number that metastasized to 512 in 2009.
In all, Patriot groups have increased by 755 percent during the first three years of the Obama administration. Their number has now surpassed - by more than 400 groups - the previous all-time high set in 1996, when the first wave of the militia movement peaked shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing that left 168 people dead.
The report is contained in the Spring 2012 issue of the SPLC's quarterly investigative journal Intelligence Report. Readers will also find an interactive map showing where hate groups are located and comprehensive, state-by-state lists.
With the recent growth of the radical right has come what most experts agree is a rash of domestic terrorism, much of it aimed at President Obama and other authorities. In the last year, several examples have cropped up:
- In Michigan, members of the Hutaree Militia were recently on trial for planning to murder a police officer and then attack the funeral with homemade bombs in an effort to spark a war against the government. Members were acquitted of most charges.
- In Georgia, four militia members are facing charges of conspiring to bomb federal buildings and attack cities with the deadly ricin toxin.
- And four members of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia are accused of planning to murder judges and law enforcement officials as part of a plan to overthrow the federal government.
The continuing tough economy appears to offer the best single explanation for the expansion of a major subset of the larger Patriot movement - antigovernment “sovereign citizens.” Sovereign citizens generally believe they are not obliged to follow most laws or comply with requirements for driver's licenses and vehicle registrations. They also typically believe that they don't have to pay taxes, that they can stop foreclosures with ease, and that with the right procedure they can extract millions from the government - all of which makes the movement especially attractive at a time of general economic hardship.
The FBI considers the sovereign movement dangerous enough that it issued a special bulletin to law enforcement officials last September describing it as “domestic terrorist,” and reported that six officers have been murdered by sovereigns since 2000. Most recently, a father-son team of sovereigns shot to death two West Memphis, Ark., police officers during a routine traffic stop in 2010, a killing that drew international attention to the movement.
The hate groups listed in this report include neo-Nazis, white nationalists, neo-Confederates, racist skinheads, Klansmen and black separatists.
Other hate groups on the list target LGBT people, Muslims or immigrants, and some specialize in producing racist music or propaganda denying the Holocaust.
Editor's Note: This report was revised to include a note that Poker Face denies the SPLC's report findings and to add the fact that Hutaree Militia in a recent Michigan case were acquitted of most charges.
Anonymous
7:42 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ ? I am praying for this group and others as I type. How can any group with the name Jesus Christ in it think that it is acceptable to judge anyone based on their outward appearance? Jesus said to LOVE your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. As he was being killed for no reason other than the powers that be were afraid of his power taking away their own, he cried out for God to forgive the people for they do not know what they are doing. Forgiveness, reconciliation and love. Also, give the truth in love. Jesus said to go and sin no more. I cannot believe in 2012 we are still calling people black and white. There is no such thing. Do we know our colors?? Seriously we are ALL shades of brown. Put your skin up to pure black or white. No, we are all shades of BROWN & the DNA for that has a very minimal difference. This is like judging people based on their eye or hair color. I will not vote for anyone Pro-choice (murder), but it has NOTHING to do with their skin color. Believe me, I WISH that we all could not see a candidatea appearance at all before we vote. I wish that we just read exactly what they stood for and read what they did without seeing them. What does someones appearance mean? It is all superficial. We are all human beings. How can we be at 2012 & not understand that? Why do we all look different? answersingenesis.org. Pray for your enemies. Hate destroys & makes you the devils prey. Forgiveness heals. Choose Jesus!
Missy Moyer-Schneck
8:36 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
I just hope as people read this article that they keep in mind these are extremist groups! To often people quickly place someone who does not share their same political beliefs into "extreme groups" and that is most definitely not the case when it comes to how we all view our political motives. In today's world, while it is very unpleasant, you will have these groups of people mentioned in this story that just are not capable of working well with others.
Just Sick and Tired
9:35 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
This entire article is based on a report by the southern poverty law center, who the heck are they and what makes them the experts? What is their agenda?
Susan Koomar
10:16 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
SPLC is a national non-profit organization that tracks hate crimes and extremist groups. It was founded by civil rights lawyer Morris Dees and is used as a resource by the FBI.
mike knapp
12:18 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
@Susan Koomar
From that article you posted...
"
(Reuters) - A federal judge in Detroit on Wednesday sentenced three members of a Midwest militia group known as the Hutaree to time served on weapons charges, ending attempts to prosecute them for violent revolt that collapsed at trial earlier this year."
So out of the 9, 3 where charged with weapons violations, nothing more. And they will not be serving any more time, because they were already in jail for 2 years. So much for a case that made national news for a week about all dem scary militias. The lying FEDs where spanked because of the BS case that was brought before Judge Roberts.
All this terrorism scare comes from the very groups like the ADL/SPLC that earn their money from scaring the people, that their are terrorists hiding behind every tree out there.
When you look at most cases if not all, they all have FED finger prints all over them.
Terrorism is a governmental disease. Why dont you look at the Sihk shooters background first, like he was employed by the army in psychological warfare for 6 years... Ever hear of MK-Ultra or Manchurian Candidates?
There will be more and more shootings like this organized by governmental assets bent on destroying our 2nd Amendment Rights to keep and bare arms for defense against Tyranny. Wake Up!
LB Bork
12:45 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
I have been studying law for 20 years. It took me a year to understand that SPLC is a front for the ones who are ultimately taking America down. This reporter should be ashamed of herself to print such rubbish.
Chris Miller
10:04 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Mallory
I don't know if you wrote this but most people have been paying little attention to the SPLC because of their mostly liberal bias. I would also like to know is it a group named Patriot and if so where are they? Or is it the Tea Party group that is being referred to in the article. I would not conside the Tea Party to be extremists
You are correct when you note that those who are true extremists are growing but who is responsible for that? You as an individual, and I include myself, need but to look in the mirror. everyday. We are in a tough situation not only with bad representatives but with a man who will most certainly go down as our worst president. Jimmy Carter is breathing better with each passing day. Note he and Ros are not going to the convention.
Susan Koomar
10:13 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Thanks for your comments, Chris. If you know of other organizations that track hate crimes and extremist groups, please let us know and we'll be glad to add their information to this and future stories. In the meantime, I will revise the story to include this: http://www.humanevents.com/2011/07/28/isnt-the-southern-poverty-law-center-the-real-hate-group-2/
Andrew Wilt
10:07 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is hardly objective in their reporting, and spokesman Mark Potok is as much an extremist in his views as anyone you might imagine. I believe he must have been molested at a young age by someone wearing camouflage as the SPLC basically includes all militia groups as "hate groups" to demonize them in the eyes of the public. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that SPLC receives federal government funding as it appears to be a shill organization trying to quash dissent.
Sure, there are individuals in militia groups who are racist just like there are individuals in any group who are racist. There are people in militias who have done bad things just like there are people everywhere who have done bad things.
I'm amazed at the attention the SPLC receives from the media. If the media was as interested in rooting out fraud and corruption in the financial industry as they are in the SPLC’s hating hate campaign, we might not have the problems we have today.
John Fox
10:08 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
It is sad to see that there is an increase in "hate groups" but I wonder if some of these groups are not really "hate groups" and are just being labeled as such. After all, the Department of Defense did call protests a "low level terrorism"
mike knapp
11:50 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
In case you dint know, but the evul HUTAREE were recently acquitted of ALL their charges. Charges falsely leveled at them by the ADL and SPLC.
Also Poker Face is NOT HATE MUSIC. REad their lyrics and tell me ONE song where there is HATE.
Exposing bakers and their crimes against we the free is a constant theme with Poker Face. Truth is Not Hate Mallory. BTW are you the new stoolie for the ADL/SPLC to write this crap locally? So unless you want a lawsuit of defamation, you better edit this trash...
Susan Koomar
12:09 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Here are details of the recent Hutaree Militia case: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-security-hutareebre8770zq-20120808,0,6939966.story
Gramma24
9:57 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
and 'Uncle Adolf' was just misunderstood. Why not just call the Southern Poverty Law Center what the Klan does 'a bunch of bleeding heart n*gger lovers' all the way to court house when they took down the 'support' system of one of the largest Klan organizations in the south and was instrumental in getting a number of residual Jim Crow laws repealed....but then, I guess you would find that 'reprehensible' as well, since if Jim Crow were still around PRESIDENT Obama would still be considered only 2/3's of a person and not only unable to run for office, but not even allowed to vote.
Scott
11:53 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Not sure how you can consider a Black Separatist Group and a Socialist Group as "Right Wing".
GREAT REPORTING!!!!
Shannon Wait
12:12 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Why don't you keep listening to your Katy Perry and get out of journalism. I'm sorry, get out of blogging.
Susan Koomar
12:23 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Folks, Local Editor Mallory Vough of Nazareth Patch did not post this article. Please direct any feedback or concerns to me (regional editor) at susan.koomar@patch.com. Thanks!
Mark Daniels
12:41 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
"My band Poker Face just got slandered in our local newspaper....
http://southwhitehall.patch.com/articles/rise-in-hate-groups-includes-lehigh-valley-extremists
She used the SPLC slander that we are HATE MUSIC. I would like to know which song on one of the 6 discs we have out where we have ONE HATEFUL SONG. Just ONE. Otherwise this Mallory VOUGH will be getting a letter from our attorney for slander and defamation..."Paul Topete"
Mark Daniels
12:48 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it! The ruling elites always attempt to divide and conquer the masses. They also attempt to label anyone who opposes their criminality as extremists. The Founding Fathers of America were considered extremists by the Crown. Additionally, the SPLC is a government funded operation who labels anyone who disagrees with the government as a "hate group" or "extremists". I am opposed to intolerance, hatred and racism of any type but you have to call the SPLC out on their conflict of interest and their own intolerance.
Mark Daniels
12:53 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Divide and Conquer by Domestic Terrorism: Progressives Take the Bait
Recent shootings turn progressives into proponents of fighting "domestic extremism". Be careful what you wish for.
http://globalpoliticalawakening.blogspot.com/2012/08/divide-and-conquer-by-domestic.html
Mark Daniels
12:54 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
The Ink Cartridge Terror Plot Is A Totally Staged Farce By Western Powers
The fear mongering surrounding the phony war on terror has continued in a big way. The corporate media recently hyped reports of a supposed terror plot involving explosive devices in packages coming from Yemen. There are so many problems with this story that it is hard to know where to begin in breaking everything down. What is certain however, is that this entire situation is a staged fiasco by the U.S. government and other western powers to further this false terror war and implement more draconian police state measures around the world.
http://globalpoliticalawakening.blogspot.com/2010/10/ink-cartridge-terror-plot-is-totally.html
Mark Daniels
12:54 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Illinois Governor Issues New Proposal for Gun Control
http://globalpoliticalawakening.blogspot.com/2012/08/illinois-governor-issues-new-proposal.html
Mark Daniels
12:55 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Lil Wayne's 'My Homies Still' Music Video Linked to Colo. Movie Theater Shooting?
http://globalpoliticalawakening.blogspot.com/2012/07/lil-waynes-my-homies-still-music-video.html
Sheila Wood
9:57 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
i dont agree with the government, i associate with people who try and expose corruption and i like poker face. i must be a hate group also. im kind of pissed my name isnt on the list.
Elsa
9:57 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
The 60's are full of protest songs. Country joe and the fish exercised their freedom of speech and this is not a "hate" crime.