Hate groups in U.S. increase 7%

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number of hate groups in the U.S. stands at 1002, with an additional 70 groups being organized since the beginning of 2010.

States with the largest number of hate groups in the continental United States are California (68), Texas (59), Florida (49), Mississippi (40), and Georgia (39). States with the fewest hate groups (2 each) were Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont. Alaska and Hawaii were not listed.

In its Spring 2011 Intelligence Report, the Center states, "The hate groups listed in this report include neo-Nazis, white nationalists, neo-Confederates, racist skinheads, Klansmen and black separatists. Other hate groups on the list target gays or immigrants, and some specialize in producing racist music or propaganda denying the Holocaust."

For more information on this research, go to: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/us-hate-groups-top-1000

©2011 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.