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Hate Groups Is Extremism on the Rise in the United States?

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Hate Groups Is Extremism on the Rise in the United States? Researcher Published by CQ Press, A Division of SAGE CQ www.cqresearcher.com Hate Groups Is extremism on the rise in the United States? ational crises create opportunities for extremists. Today the global economic crisis now wreaking havoc on millions of American households is hitting while the first black president is in the NWhite House and the national debate over illegal immigration re- mains unresolved. Already, some far-right extremists are proclaim- ing that their moment is arriving. Indeed, an annual tally by the Southern Poverty Law Center shows 926 hate groups operating in 2008, a 50 percent increase over the number in 2000. And the Followers of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Department of Homeland Security concludes that conditions may Movement demonstrate at the opening of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in favor far-right recruitment. But a mix of conservatives and liberal Skokie, Ill., on April 19, 2009. free-speech activists warn that despite concerns about extremism, the administration of Barack Obama should not be intruding on I constitutionally protected political debate. Some extremism-monitoring N THIS REPORT S groups say Obama’s election showed far-right power is waning, THE ISSUES ......................423 I not strengthening. But that equation may change if the economic BACKGROUND ..................430 D crisis deepens, the experts caution. CHRONOLOGY ..................431 E CURRENT SITUATION ..........435 CQ Researcher • May 8, 2009 • www.cqresearcher.com AT ISSUE ..........................439 Volume 19, Number 18 • Pages 421-448 OUTLOOK ........................441 RECIPIENT OF SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE N AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION SILVER GAVEL AWARD BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................445 THE NEXT STEP ................446 HATE GROUPS CQ Researcher May 8, 2009 THE ISSUES SIDEBARS AND GRAPHICS Volume 19, Number 18 MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas J. Colin • Could the election of a Hate Groups Active in All [email protected] 423 black president and the eco- 424 But Two States Hate groups were active in ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR: Kathy Koch nomic crisis spark far-right [email protected] political activity or violence? all the states except Hawaii • Are immigrants in danger and Alaska in 2008. ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Kenneth Jost from extremist violence? Dozens of Extremist Events STAFF WRITERS: Thomas J. Billitteri, • Is right-wing and ex- 425 Are Planned This Summer Marcia Clemmitt, Peter Katel tremist speech encouraging Many are being held in KKK CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Rachel Cox, hate crimes? strongholds. Sarah Glazer, Alan Greenblatt, Barbara Mantel, Patrick Marshall, BACKGROUND 428 Hate Groups Increased Tom Price, Jennifer Weeks by 50 Percent DESIGN/PRODUCTION EDITOR: Olu B. Davis Building Movements The number of hate groups 430 Hatred of Jews played a active in the United States in- ASSISTANT EDITOR: Darrell Dela Rosa key role. creased to 926 in 2008. FACT-CHECKING: Eugene J. Gabler, Michelle Harris Chronology Fighting and Killing 431 Key events since 1934. EDITORIAL INTERN: Vyomika Jairam 432 Christian Identity sympathiz- ers embraced extremism. Concern About Extremism 432 Rising in Europe Explosion and Aftermath Czech Republic expels ex-Klan 434 Violence further intensified leader Duke. in the 1990s. A Division of SAGE ‘Fascism’ Label Comes in 436 Handy for Critics PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER: CURRENT SITUATION But respected writers say it’s John A. Jenkins a legitimate — if unlikely — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Hate in April concern. REFERENCE INFORMATION GROUP: 435 Alix B. Vance Hitler’s birth month begins At Issue the extremist rally season. 439 Is anti-immigration rhetoric Copyright © 2009 CQ Press, A Division of SAGE. provoking hate crimes against SAGE reserves all copyright and other rights herein, Free Speech, Hate Speech Latinos? unless previously specified in writing. No part of this 437 The government has been publication may be reproduced electronically or oth- accused of undermining erwise, without prior written permission. Unautho- radical ideas. FOR FURTHER RESEARCH rized reproduction or transmission of SAGE copyright- ed material is a violation of federal law carrying civil Recruiting Veterans 444 For More Information fines of up to $100,000. 438 Military training is valued Organizations to contact. CQ Press is a registered trademark of Congressional by neo-Nazi supremacists. Quarterly Inc. Bibliography 445 Selected sources used. CQ Researcher (ISSN 1056-2036) is printed on acid- UTLOOK free paper. Published weekly, except; (Jan. wk. 1) O The Next Step (May wk. 4) (July wks. 1, 2) (Aug. wks. 3, 4) (Nov. 446 Additional articles. wk. 4) and (Dec. wk. 4), by CQ Press, a division of Guns in Holsters 441 SAGE Publications. Annual full-service subscriptions Extremists say they are Citing CQ Researcher start at $803. For pricing, call 1-800-834-9020, ext. 1906. biding their time. 447 Sample bibliography formats. To purchase a CQ Researcher report in print or elec- tronic format (PDF), visit www. cqpress.com or call 866-427-7737. Single reports start at $15. Bulk pur- chase discounts and electronic-rights licensing are also available. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CQ Researcher, 2300 N St., N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20037. Cover: Getty Images/Scott Olson 422 CQ Researcher Hate Groups BY PETER KATEL “This is the formula — the formula for hate,” says James THE ISSUES Cavanaugh, special agent in wo police officers charge of the Bureau of Al- drove up to a brick cohol, Tobacco, Firearms and T house in the middle- Explosives (ATF) Nashville, class Pittsburgh neighborhood Tenn., division and a veter- of Stanton Heights on April 4, an investigator of far-right ex- responding to an emergency tremists. “Everything’s align- call from a woman about her ing for them for hate.” 22-year-old son. “I want him The Department of Home- gone,” Margaret Poplawski told land Security (DHS) drew a a 911 operator. 1 similar conclusion in early She also said that he had April, adding a concern weapons, but the operator over the apparent rekin- failed to share that crucial in- dling of extremist interest in formation with the police, recruiting disaffected military who apparently took no spe- veterans. cial precautions in respond- “The consequences of a ing. Seconds after officers prolonged economic down- Stephen J. Mayhle and Paul turn . could create a fer- J. Sciullo walked into the tile recruiting environment house, Richard Poplawski Richard Poplawski, 22, faces murder charges in for right-wing extremists and opened fire, killing both men. Pittsburgh after allegedly shooting and killing three even result in confrontations He then shot and killed Eric police officers on April 4, 2009. Three weeks earlier, between such groups and Poplawski, who tatooed on his chest what he reportedly Kelly, a policeman outside described as an “Americanized” Nazi eagle, apparently government authorities,” 5 the house. After a four-hour posted an anti-Semitic message on Stormfront, a neo- the DHS said. standoff, Poplawski surren- Nazi Web site. The number of active hate groups in the The election of Barack dered. 2 Hours after that, the nation has jumped to 926 groups — a 50 percent Obama as the nation’s first Anti-Defamation League and increase — since 2000. African-American president a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette re- also could prompt an ex- porter traced a March 13 Web post by have long festered in the extreme out- tremist backlash. “Obama is going to Poplawski to the neo-Nazi Web site posts of U.S. political culture. While be the spark that arouses the white Stormfront. extremists typically become active in movement,” the Detroit-based Nation- “The federal government, main- times of social and economic stress, al Socialist Movement * — considered stream media and banking system in Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City a leading neo-Nazi organization — an- these United States are strongly under bomber, struck in 1995 during a rel- nounced on its Web site. 6 the influence of — if not complete- atively tranquil, prosperous time. (See But the Obama effect will be neg- ly controlled by — Zionist interest,” “Background,” p. 435.) ligible among hardcore, violent ex- the post said. “An economic collapse Now, law enforcement officials warn, tremists, says an ex-FBI agent who of the financial system is inevitable, dire conditions throughout the coun- worked undercover in right-wing ter- bringing with it some degree of civil try have created a perfect storm of rorist cells in the early 1990s. “They’re unrest if not outright balkanization of provocations for right-wing extremists. in an alternative universe,” says Mike the continental U.S., civil/revolution- In the midst of fighting two wars, the German, author of the 2007 book ary/racial war. This collapse is country is suffering an economic cri- Thinking Like a Terrorist, and now a likely engineered by the elite Jewish sis in which more than 5 million peo- policy counselor to the American Civil powers that be in order to make for ple have lost their jobs, while the hy- Liberties Union on national-security a power and asset grab.” 3 percharged debate over immigration issues. “When you believe the American Obsessions with Jewish conspira- — and the presence of about 12 mil- cy, racial conflict and looming col- lion illegal immigrants — continues * “Nazi” is the German-language contraction lapse of the political and social order unresolved. 4 of “National Socialist.” www.cqresearcher.com May 8, 2009 423 HATE GROUPS Mental health problems also may Hate Groups Active in All But Two States play a role in such violence, not all Hate groups were active in all the states except Hawaii and of which is inspired by hate rhetoric. In the single deadliest attack on im- Alaska in 2008, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. migrants in memory, Jiverly Wong Iowa, California, Texas and Mississippi had the largest is charged with killing 13 people concentrations of groups.
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