Monday, March 02, 2009

SPLC Report: Hate Group Numbers Up By 54% Since 2000

The Southern Poverty Law Center identified 926 hate groups active in 2008, up more than 4 percent from the 888 groups in 2007 and far above the 602 groups documented in 2000.

As in recent years, hate groups were animated by fears of Latino immigration. This rise in hate groups has coincided with a 40 percent growth in hate crimes against Latinos between 2003 and 2007, according to FBI statistics.

Two new factors were introduced to the volatile hate movement in 2008: the faltering economy and the Obama campaign.

Link to the "Year in Hate" | Link to list and interactive, state-by-state map of hate groups

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