The SPLC has for years labeled organizations that it disagrees with as "hate groups," often lumping in conservative and Christian organizations with the likes of the KKK. Despite years of people and organizations challenging these labels, the SPLC forged ahead and officials in government have used SPLC's information as source material.
AFN reported previously about Patel cutting ties with the SPLC because their "Hate Map" unjustly targeted right-leaning conservative organizations.
Tyler O'Neil, managing editor of Daily Signal, talked about this on American Family Radio (AFR)'s "Jenna Ellis in the Morning" program. He said it was past time for the FBI to sever ties with SPLC.
"I've seen multiple documents showing that the SPLC was advising the Department of Justice, speaking with prosecutors, and being considered a reliable source on hate and extremism," O'Neil said.
O'Neil, author of "Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center," said the legacy media has covered Patel's actions as if the FBI is disaffiliating itself with a civil rights organization or a civil rights watchdog that has zero scandals or criticism.
"They had a racial discrimination and a sexual harassment scandal in 2019 where they fired their co-founder and then had a former employee come out and say that they're a highly profitable scam," informed O’Neil.
The Daily Caller reported previously about the scandal. Bob Moser was the former staff member that called out the organization for “ripping off donors” and purposely ignoring sexual harassment and racial discrimination. It got to the point where co-founder Morris Dees was fired after multiple employees signed a letter stating their concern about the mistreatment allegations.
Groups that SPLC added to its "hate map" (featured above) include Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Family Research Council (FRC), Focus on the Family, American Family Association (AFA), Moms for Liberty, and Turning Point USA.
In 2012, a gunman entered FRC's headquarters in Washington, D.C. with plans to shoot staffers. In 2013, then-29-year-old Floyd Lee Corkins II was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
At the time of the shooting, NBC News reported that FRC president Tony Perkins said SPLC shared some of the blame.
"Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center, that have been reckless in labeling organizations ‘hate groups’ because they disagree with them on public policy," said Perkins.
