Peel and Stick: SPLC’s Reckless Labeling

[mountaineer]

Peel and Stick: SPLC’s Reckless Labeling
Aug 23, 2017 |  Peter Wood

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) yesterday published an article, “American Freedom Alliance Event Blames Immigrants for California’s ‘Destruction.’” I’m mentioned in the third paragraph of the article as a featured speaker. I hasten to add that I gave a ten-minute talk Sunday morning at the American Freedom Alliance’s Los Angeles conference on the decline of California’s civic institutions. My brief talk was about the spread of false narratives in education, collective forgetfulness, and the ferocity of some progressive activists. I had nothing at all to say about immigrants.

A video of the event will be available soon.

The American Freedom Alliance might be described as a mix of conservative populist and libertarian intellectuals. The dominant political theme was opposition to regulatory overreach. The keynote speaker was Victor Davis Hanson. Attendees were provided a 74-page compilation of articles, and several of the speakers were promoting their books. I left with copies of Greg Walcher’s Smoking Them Out: The Theft of the Environment and How to Take it Back, and Lance Izumi’s The Corrupt Classroom.  One attendee, Howard Hyde, gave me a copy of his book, Escape from Berkeley: An Ex-liberal Progressive Socialist Embraces America.

I mention these details to evoke the character of the event. No Confederate flags were waved. No Nazis appeared in the audience. There were no protesters, and no counter-protesters. It was Sunday-morning short-sleeved Los Angelenos mainly expressing their sense of marginalization from state government. Three hopefuls for the Republican nomination for governor spoke. I sat next to a second grade public school teacher, Ms. Hanson, who has a sideline of promoting cursive writing instruction.

But SPLC has labeled AFA a “hate group.”   ...

AS published an article in Academic Questions three years ago, George Yancey’s “Watching the Watchers: The Neglect of Academic Analysis of Progressive Groups,” (Vol. 27, No.1, Spring 2014), which dealt with the history and tactics of SPLC. SPLC at the time took note of it and posted a brief reply, focused more on what a writer at Breitbart had made of Yancey’s article than on the article itself. That is the extent of our past dealings with SPLC.

The culture wars impinge ever closer on efforts to describe accurately and critique fairly American education. There is no avoiding this and no reason to run from it, but it is important to understand that SPLC is an active partisan in these matters.   ...

Read entire article at National Association of Scholars

SPLC - like BLM and more than a few other groups - seem to be readying the gulags for those who don't toe the line, ideologically speaking.

[mountaineer]

The Southern Poverty Law Center is the Most Dangerous Hate Group in America
The best thing we can do right now is expose them.
By Michael Brown
 Published on August 24, 2017

Which is more insidious, the enemy that you recognize or the enemy that appears to be your friend? Which is more dangerous, a rag-tag bunch of poorly-funded White Supremacists or a well-organized, massively-funded, “civil rights” organization which demonizes Christian conservatives? And which lie is more likely to spread, one that is false from beginning to end or one that mixes falsehood with truth?

Based on the obvious answers to these questions, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is the most insidious and dangerous. And the lies of the SPLC are more likely to spread. The SPLC even has blood on its hands. By its own definition, it should be listed as a hate group (more on both claims below).

Holocaust Deniers, Islamic Terrorists and … Catholic Ministries?

To give you an idea of just how dangerous the SPLC is, consider this recent headline from the San Diego Union-Tribune: “Eight hate groups are in San Diego’s backyard, civil rights organization says.”

Really? Eight hate-groups in San Diego’s backyard? How does that make you feel if you live nearby? What protective action should you take? And who, exactly, are these groups?

Some are Black Supremacist groups. One denies the Holocaust. One supports Islamic terrorism and wants to establish Sharia Law. And two are conservative Christian organizations.

That’s right, two conservative Christian organizations, including the Ruth Institute, a Catholic, pro-family organization, led by Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, are listed side by side with radical Muslims, Black Supremacists, and Holocaust deniers.

This is the insidiousness of the SPLC. It exposes genuine hate groups alongside fine Christian organizations whose great sin, according to the SPLC, is being “anti-LGBT.”

Put another way, you are “anti-LGBT” if you believe that it’s best for kids to have a mom and dad. Or that marriage should be limited to the union of one man and one woman. Or that homosexual practice is sinful. Or that gays can change, or that Bruce Jenner is not a woman, or that a 15-year-old boy should not be able to play on the girls’ sports teams and share their locker rooms and showers.

And since you are “anti-LGBT,” according to the SPLC, you are a hater. And if your organization or ministry is known for such views, you belong on their hate list side by side with the KKK, neo-Nazis, Black Supremacists, and Islamic radicals. ...

Rest of article

[TomSea]

Yes, these are worthwhile articles.

Are you in that organization, International Association of Scholars? Anyway, it doesn't matter and you don't need to answer. That may be personal.

But on BLM, Michael Medved spoke about them today. That despite all; according to Medved, they do have widespread support. Yes, some of their members have done or have inspired others to do some very bad things. Anyway, that's what Medved was saying. Still, there is little way to get by that "pigs in a blanket" chant. Some pretty horrible stuff. No one was really debating him on the topic. It is what he said.

Still, surely, BLM could fall into the SPLC's categorization as a hate group.

[TomSea]

Fort Lauderdale's D. James Kennedy Ministries sues over being labeled 'hate group'
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-reg-ministry-labeled-hate-group-challenges-splc-20170824-story.html

A lot of us may remember the late minister James Kennedy, really something that they'd put his ministries on there, probably just for teaching Biblical marriage. I hope they can win.

[catfish1957]

Peel and Stick: SPLC’s Reckless Labeling
Aug 23, 2017 |  Peter WoodRead entire article at National Association of Scholars

SPLC - like BLM and more than a few other groups - seem to be readying the gulags for those who don't toe the line, ideologically speaking.

BLM and Antifa are as much of a terrorist organization as KKK.

BLM's leadership screaming to burn down Ferguson sealed for me.

[mountaineer]

Yes, these are worthwhile articles.

Are you in that organization, International Association of Scholars? Anyway, it doesn't matter and you don't need to answer. That may be personal.

@TomSea  My husband joined NAS as a college administrator (he's now retired). The articles published on their website and in their periodicals are outstanding.