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[[File:SPLC_Logo.jpg|right]]

[[File:SPLC_Logo.jpg|right]]

The '''Southern Poverty Law Center''' is a [[Leftist|far-left]] legal and activist [[organization]] created in 1971 in Montgomery, [[Alabama]]. It was founded by trial lawyers Morris Dees and Joe Levin, and its first president was civil rights leader [[Julian Bond]], who would later take control of the [[NAACP]]. SPLC supports a wide variety of extreme-[[liberal]] positions; it is anti-conservative Christianity, pro-[[immigration]] (both legal and [[illegal immigration|illegal]]), advocates [[multiculturalism]] and the [[homosexual agenda]], supports [[Muslim]]s and racial preferences and defendants' rights, and advocates against what it considers "hate groups". In 2012, Black pastors confronted the Southern Poverty Law Center for smearing as "hate groups" pro-family organizations opposed to the [[homosexual agenda]].<ref>http://americansfortruth.com/2012/0/16/press-conf-black-pastors-confront-southern-poverty-law-center-for-smearing-pro-family-organizations-opposed-to-homosexual-agenda-as-hate-groups/</ref> Reverend Dr. Patrick Wooden admonished the SPLC in declaring that it is wrong to compare "my beautiful blackness" with [[homosexual]] perversion.<ref>http://americansfortruth.com/2012/01/16/press-conf-black-pastors-confront-southern-poverty-law-center-for-smearing-pro-family-organizations-opposed-to-homosexual-agenda-as-hate-groups/</ref>

The '''Southern Poverty Law Center''' is a [[Leftist|far-left]] legal and activist [[organization]] created in 1971 in Montgomery, [[Alabama]]. It was founded by trial lawyers Morris Dees and Joe Levin, and its first president was civil rights leader [[Julian Bond]], who would later take control of the [[NAACP]]. SPLC supports a wide variety of extreme-[[liberal]] positions; it is anti-conservative Christianity, pro-[[immigration]] (both legal and [[illegal immigration|illegal]]), advocates [[multiculturalism]] and the [[homosexual agenda]], supports [[Muslim]]s and racial preferences and defendants' rights, and advocates against what it considers "hate groups." In 2012, Black pastors confronted the Southern Poverty Law Center for smearing as "hate groups" pro-family organizations opposed to the [[homosexual agenda]].<ref>http://americansfortruth.com/2012/0/16/press-conf-black-pastors-confront-southern-poverty-law-center-for-smearing-pro-family-organizations-opposed-to-homosexual-agenda-as-hate-groups/</ref> Reverend Dr. Patrick Wooden admonished the SPLC in declaring that it is wrong to compare "my beautiful blackness" with [[homosexual]] perversion.<ref>http://americansfortruth.com/2012/01/16/press-conf-black-pastors-confront-southern-poverty-law-center-for-smearing-pro-family-organizations-opposed-to-homosexual-agenda-as-hate-groups/</ref>

The SPLC's op-ed writings have appeared in the [[Communist Party USA]]'s newspaper ''People's World''.<ref>[https://dailycaller.com/2011/01/22/splc-article-featured-in-communist-newspaper/ SPLC article featured in communist newspaper, The Daily Caller, January 22, 2011]</ref> This "controversial, liberal organization"<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/dec98/southern19.htm</ref> has been criticized in mainstream press for being extravagant in its spending, and using charges of racism to stifle conservatives.<ref>http://cofcc.org/?p=984</ref>

The SPLC's op-ed writings have appeared in the [[Communist Party USA]]'s newspaper ''People's World''.<ref>[https://dailycaller.com/2011/01/22/splc-article-featured-in-communist-newspaper/ SPLC article featured in communist newspaper, The Daily Caller, January 22, 2011]</ref> This "controversial, liberal organization"<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/dec98/southern19.htm</ref> has been criticized in mainstream press for being extravagant in its spending, and using charges of racism to stifle conservatives.<ref>http://cofcc.org/?p=984</ref> Despite the organization's [[far-left]] [[partisan]]ship and its slander of mainstream conservative and Christian organizations, the mainstream media continues to cite the SPLC as an authority on hate groups.<ref>Adams, Becket (February 23, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/dont-fall-for-the-splcs-lies Don't fall for the SPLC's lies]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved February 24, 2019.</ref>

Despite the organization's [[far-left]] [[partisan]]ship and its slander of mainstream conservative and Christian organizations, the mainstream media continues to cite the SPLC as an authority on hate groups.<ref>Adams, Becket (February 23, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/dont-fall-for-the-splcs-lies Don't fall for the SPLC's lies]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved February 24, 2019.</ref>

In March 2019, the SPLC fired its co-founder for misconduct,<ref>Multiple references:

*Murphy, James (March 15, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/31757-splc-fires-founder-morris-dees-amid-lawsuits-and-credibility-crisis SPLC Fires Founder Morris Dees Amid Lawsuits and Credibility Crisis]. ''The New American''. Retrieved March 23, 2019.

*Caplan, Joshua (March 14, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/03/14/southern-poverty-law-center-fires-founder-morris-dees-suggests-misconduct/ Southern Poverty Law Center Fires Founder Morris Dees, Suggests Misconduct]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 23, 2019.

*Lowry, Rich (March 19, 2019). [https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/03/southern-poverty-law-center-weaponized-political-correctness/ The SPLC Designates Itself]. ''National Review''. Retrieved March 23, 2019.</ref> and its president resigned shortly afterward.<ref>Multiple references:

*Casiano, Louis (March 23, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/us/southern-poverty-law-center-president-richard-cohen-stepping-down-amid-rash-of-departures Southern Poverty Law Center, frequent critic of conservatives, sees its president step down amid rash of departures]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 23, 2019.

*Hasson, Peter (March 22, 2019). [https://dailycaller.com/2019/03/22/splc-richard-cohen-resigns/ SPLC President Richard Cohen Resigns from Embattled Left-Wing Nonprofit]. ''The Daily Caller''. Retrieved March 23, 2019.</ref>

==Finances==

==Finances==

The SPLC's fundraising tactics came under heavy criticism most recently by the Council of Conservative Citizens,<ref>http://cofcc.org/?p=5108</ref> as well as by articles in ''Harper's'' magazine in 2000<ref>Silverstein, Ken.  "The Church of Morris Dees: How the Southern Poverty Law Center Profits from Intolerance".  ''Harper's'', November, 2000.  http://www.harpers.org/archive/2000/11/0068709</ref> and in the local ''Montgomery Advertiser'' newspaper in 1994.<ref>Morse, Dan and Greg Jaffe. "Critics Question $52 Million Reserve, Tactics of Wealthiest Civil Rights Group". ''Montgomery Advertiser'', February 13, 1994</ref>

The SPLC's fundraising tactics came under heavy criticism most recently by the Council of Conservative Citizens,<ref>http://cofcc.org/?p=5108</ref> as well as by articles in ''Harper's'' magazine in 2000<ref>Silverstein, Ken.  "The Church of Morris Dees: How the Southern Poverty Law Center Profits from Intolerance".  ''Harper's'', November, 2000.  http://www.harpers.org/archive/2000/11/0068709</ref> and in the local ''Montgomery Advertiser'' newspaper in 1994.<ref>Morse, Dan and Greg Jaffe. "Critics Question $52 Million Reserve, Tactics of Wealthiest Civil Rights Group". ''Montgomery Advertiser'', February 13, 1994</ref>

==Hate Groups==

==Hate Groups==

SPLC lists over 1000 organizations as hate groups. Many of these are widely accepted but the list continues to grow with the controversial additions of [[conservative]] and [[Christianity|Christian]] organizations. Conservative political stances and Christian moral stances that the SLPC disagrees with are now targeted, many of these additions are organizations for the general welfare of American citizens and are not associated with hate. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer has described the SPLC as "defamers and the blacklisters."<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2016/12/15/israeli-ambassador-ron-dermer-slams-southern-poverty-law-center-defamers-blacklisters/ Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer Slams Southern Poverty Law Center As ‘Defamers and Blacklisters’]. ''Breitbart News'' (from ''The Times of Israel''). Retrieved April 26, 2018.</ref>

SPLC lists over 1000 organizations as hate groups. Many of these are widely accepted but the list continues to grow with the controversial additions of [[conservative]] and [[Christianity|Christian]] organizations. Conservative political stances and Christian moral stances that the SLPC disagrees with are now targeted, many of these additions are organizations for the general welfare of American citizens and are not associated with hate.<ref>Wilcox, Dale (March 1, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/03/01/wilcox-splcs-hate-map-hysteria-enables-hoaxes/ Wilcox: SPLC’s Hate Map Hysteria Enables Hoaxes]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 23, 2019.</ref> Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer has described the SPLC as "defamers and the blacklisters."<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2016/12/15/israeli-ambassador-ron-dermer-slams-southern-poverty-law-center-defamers-blacklisters/ Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer Slams Southern Poverty Law Center As ‘Defamers and Blacklisters’]. ''Breitbart News'' (from ''The Times of Israel''). Retrieved April 26, 2018.</ref>

*Catholic organizations

*Catholic organizations