SPLC: Three Montgomery Area Hate Groups

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Many consider the Southern Poverty Law Center’s annual list of U.S. extremist groups an authoritative glimpse into racist and anti-government activity. Some of its targets, however, contend the civil rights advocacy group is focused on silencing conservative viewpoints – sometimes with serious consequences.

The Family Research Council blames a 2012 shooting at its Washington, D.C., headquarters on its inclusion on the SPLC’s hate-group list. One Alabama police officer resigned and another was fired after the SPLC revealed that they had belonged to the League of the South, which the SPLC labels as a racist neo-Confederate organization.

SPLC officials say they determine targets by whether they attack groups of people based on central characteristics such as race, religion and sexual orientation.

There are three River Region groups on 2016 the SPLC list: The Southern National Congress and The League of The South in Wetumpka, and the black-nationalist group Nation of Islam in Montgomery.

You can look at an interactive map on the SPLC website.

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