| BARRIOZONA |
| Bilingual Community Expression Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
| SPLC’s report shows significant growth of hate groups nationwide; 19 are based in Arizona. |
Phoenix, Arizona (March 18,
2009) - A report by the Alabama-
based Southern Poverty Law
Center ─a civil rights law firm─
reports that the number of hate
groups operating in the United
States continued to rise in 2008.
According to the “Year in Hate”
issue of the SPLC's Intelligence
Report released today March 18,
last year’s increase in the
number of hate groups was
fueled by “immigration fears, a
failing economy and the
successful campaign of Barack
Obama.”
The Center is internationally
known for its educational
2009) - A report by the Alabama-
based Southern Poverty Law
Center ─a civil rights law firm─
reports that the number of hate
groups operating in the United
States continued to rise in 2008.
According to the “Year in Hate”
issue of the SPLC's Intelligence
Report released today March 18,
last year’s increase in the
number of hate groups was
fueled by “immigration fears, a
failing economy and the
successful campaign of Barack
Obama.”
The Center is internationally
known for its educational
| Hispanic Institute of Social Issues © 2006-2009 All rights reserved. webmaster@hisi.org |
| SPLC's ARTICLE AND DATA: The Year in Hate |
programs on tolerance, its many victories in courts against white supremacists, as well as its tracking of hate
groups.
Report’s data reveals that since 2000, hate groups have grown by 54 percent. This represents more than 4
percent growth from the 888 groups that were documented in 2007, and far above the 602 groups documented in
2000.
A total of 926 active hate groups in the nation were identified in this report, 19 of them as being based in Arizona,
and of which 10 are Neo-Nazi. Among Arizona cities where hate groups have membership are: Apache Junction,
Black Canyon City, Colorado City, Cottonwood, Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix, Sierra Vista and Tempe, and the counties
of Maricopa and Cochise.
Other hate group’s affiliations are Racist Skinhead, the Christian Identity religion, General Hate, White Nationalist,
Black Separatist, Anti-Immigrant, and Ku Klux Klan. Other groups listed in the report target gays or immigrants, and
some focus on producing racist-based music or on spreading propaganda aimed to deny the Holocaust.
The growth of hate groups have translated into an increase in hate crimes. According to statistics from the Federal
Bureau of Investigations, between 2003 and 2007 there was a 40 percent growth in hate crimes against Latinos.
In addition to what SLPC describes as “immigration fears,” the Center cites two new factors that in 2008 further
fueled the volatile hate-motivated movement: the deteriorating economy and Obama’s presidential campaign.
Mark Potok, editor of the Intelligence Report, affirms that racist extremists have been inflamed by President Barack
Obama's election. According to Potok, White supremacists perceive the first African-American president’s campaign
“as another sign that their country is under siege by non-whites."
"The idea of a black man in the White House, combined with the deepening economic crisis and continuing high
levels of Latino immigration, has given white supremacists a real platform on which to recruit," added the editor.
In his “The Year in Heat” article in the Intelligence Report, associate editor David Holthouse, points out that, “From
white power skinheads decrying "President Obongo" at a racist gathering in rural Missouri, to neo-Nazis and Ku
Klux Klansmen hurling epithets at Latino immigrants from courthouse steps in Oklahoma, to anti-Semitic black
separatists calling for death to Jews on bustling street corners in several East Coast cities, hate group activity in
the U.S. was disturbing and widespread throughout 2008, as the number of hate groups operating in America
continued to rise.”
Along the on-going immigration debate, and Obama’s campaign, extremist groups are spreading the idea that
minorities and immigrants are to blame for the home mortgage crisis.
groups.
Report’s data reveals that since 2000, hate groups have grown by 54 percent. This represents more than 4
percent growth from the 888 groups that were documented in 2007, and far above the 602 groups documented in
2000.
A total of 926 active hate groups in the nation were identified in this report, 19 of them as being based in Arizona,
and of which 10 are Neo-Nazi. Among Arizona cities where hate groups have membership are: Apache Junction,
Black Canyon City, Colorado City, Cottonwood, Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix, Sierra Vista and Tempe, and the counties
of Maricopa and Cochise.
Other hate group’s affiliations are Racist Skinhead, the Christian Identity religion, General Hate, White Nationalist,
Black Separatist, Anti-Immigrant, and Ku Klux Klan. Other groups listed in the report target gays or immigrants, and
some focus on producing racist-based music or on spreading propaganda aimed to deny the Holocaust.
The growth of hate groups have translated into an increase in hate crimes. According to statistics from the Federal
Bureau of Investigations, between 2003 and 2007 there was a 40 percent growth in hate crimes against Latinos.
In addition to what SLPC describes as “immigration fears,” the Center cites two new factors that in 2008 further
fueled the volatile hate-motivated movement: the deteriorating economy and Obama’s presidential campaign.
Mark Potok, editor of the Intelligence Report, affirms that racist extremists have been inflamed by President Barack
Obama's election. According to Potok, White supremacists perceive the first African-American president’s campaign
“as another sign that their country is under siege by non-whites."
"The idea of a black man in the White House, combined with the deepening economic crisis and continuing high
levels of Latino immigration, has given white supremacists a real platform on which to recruit," added the editor.
In his “The Year in Heat” article in the Intelligence Report, associate editor David Holthouse, points out that, “From
white power skinheads decrying "President Obongo" at a racist gathering in rural Missouri, to neo-Nazis and Ku
Klux Klansmen hurling epithets at Latino immigrants from courthouse steps in Oklahoma, to anti-Semitic black
separatists calling for death to Jews on bustling street corners in several East Coast cities, hate group activity in
the U.S. was disturbing and widespread throughout 2008, as the number of hate groups operating in America
continued to rise.”
Along the on-going immigration debate, and Obama’s campaign, extremist groups are spreading the idea that
minorities and immigrants are to blame for the home mortgage crisis.
| Latino Immigration, Bad Economy and Obama Fueling Hate in the United States |
| Text by Eduardo Barraza Photograph by Chad Johnson |