Changes

===SPLC attacks on conservatives and Christians===

===SPLC attacks on conservatives and Christians===

While SPLC attacks obvious hate groups such as the KKK or Aryan Brotherhood, it also lumps in some conservative and Christian organizations in an attempt to defame and delegitimize them. For instance, SPLC considers Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) a "hate group", because it opposes illegal immigration, and uses demonstrations as a method, which the SPLC deems intimidation.<ref>http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2007/12/11/fair-crossing-the-rubicon-of-hate&splcnewsletter=panewsgen-121107/</ref>  Similarly, the SPLC labels the immigration reductionist/reformist website VDARE as a "hate group", because it argues against illegal immigration.<ref>http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2008/10/07/freedom-folksblogs4borders-interview-with-peter-brimelow/</ref>  

While SPLC attacks obvious hate groups such as the KKK or Aryan Brotherhood, it also lumps in conservative and Christian organizations in an attempt to defame and delegitimize them.<ref>Newman, Alex (February 26, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/31570-splc-invents-crisis-claims-trump-rise-fueled-by-racism SPLC Invents Crisis, Claims Trump Rise Fueled by Racism]. ''The New American''. Retrieved February 26, 2019.</ref> For instance, SPLC considers Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) a "hate group", because it opposes illegal immigration, and uses demonstrations as a method, which the SPLC deems intimidation.<ref>http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2007/12/11/fair-crossing-the-rubicon-of-hate&splcnewsletter=panewsgen-121107/</ref>  Similarly, the SPLC labels the immigration reductionist/reformist website VDARE as a "hate group", because it argues against illegal immigration.<ref>http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2008/10/07/freedom-folksblogs4borders-interview-with-peter-brimelow/</ref>

The SPLC followed Laird Wilson in publishing a list of "hate groups" but after Wilson rejected the usefulness of that approach, the SPLC continued with it, becoming prominent for using it against groups standing for traditional values.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2011/0223/Annual-report-cites-rise-in-hate-groups-but-some-ask-What-is-hate</ref><ref>http://editioncnn.com/2012/08/16us/dc-shooting-blame/index.html</ref><ref>https://thehill.com/blogs?blog-briefing-room/news/243921-shooting-spurs-heated-battle-on-gay-rights-and-hate-group-label</ref>  Laird Wilcox, claims to have provided SPLC with some of the information initially used to compile their list of "hate groups". He "concluded that a lot of [the SPLC's hate groups] were vanishingly small or didn’t exist, or could even be an invention of the SPLC." Some of the "hate groups" were creations of SPLC informants, rather than legitimate groups. And with the advent of the internet, some of them exist "nowhere except in cyberspace." Wilcox concludes, "The whole issue of “lists” is full of smoke and mirrors."<ref>"An Expert on Fringe Political Movements Reflects on the SPLC’s Political Agenda - An Exclusive Interview with Author and Researcher Laird Wilcox", Volume 20, Number 3 (Spring 2010)  http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc_20_3/tsc_20_3_wilcox_interview.shtml</ref>

The SPLC followed Laird Wilson in publishing a list of "hate groups" but after Wilson rejected the usefulness of that approach, the SPLC continued with it, becoming prominent for using it against groups standing for traditional values.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2011/0223/Annual-report-cites-rise-in-hate-groups-but-some-ask-What-is-hate</ref><ref>http://editioncnn.com/2012/08/16us/dc-shooting-blame/index.html</ref><ref>https://thehill.com/blogs?blog-briefing-room/news/243921-shooting-spurs-heated-battle-on-gay-rights-and-hate-group-label</ref>  Laird Wilcox, claims to have provided SPLC with some of the information initially used to compile their list of "hate groups". He "concluded that a lot of [the SPLC's hate groups] were vanishingly small or didn’t exist, or could even be an invention of the SPLC." Some of the "hate groups" were creations of SPLC informants, rather than legitimate groups. And with the advent of the internet, some of them exist "nowhere except in cyberspace." Wilcox concludes, "The whole issue of “lists” is full of smoke and mirrors."<ref>"An Expert on Fringe Political Movements Reflects on the SPLC’s Political Agenda - An Exclusive Interview with Author and Researcher Laird Wilcox", Volume 20, Number 3 (Spring 2010)  http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc_20_3/tsc_20_3_wilcox_interview.shtml</ref>