A 2017 census by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit that tracks extremism, identified 66 organizations in Florida as hate groups.
The census resurfaced and gained traction online on Tuesday after an article was published by News4Jax, the website for Jacksonville television station WJXT.
SPLC identified 954 hate groups operating in 2017 within the United States. Since 1990, the SPLC has published an annual census of hate groups operating within the United States.
In its findings, Florida tied with Texas having the second greatest number of hate groups. California had the highest amount with 75.
The City Beautiful was not left out of the census, with five organizations identified as hate groups by the SPLC:
Israel United in Christ — a black nationalist group
Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ — a black nationalist group
Nation Of Kings and Priests — a black nationalist group
Liberty Counsel — an anti LBGTQ group
All Eyes on Egipt Bookstore — a black nationalist group
In March, the Liberty Counsel released a statement denouncing the SPLC’s hate-group list — calling it a “farce.”
Liberty Counsel also joined 47 other conservative leaders and organizations in releasing an open letter to government agencies and other entities to cut ties with the SPLC for defamation.
Earlier this year SPLC did agree to a settlement of $3.375 million and publicly apologized to the Quilliam Foundation after erroneously labeling the group as “Muslim extremists,” according to an article by the Washington Times.
The SPLC defines hate groups as “as an organization that – based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities – has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics.”
While the SPLC continues to receive pushback from entities it names as “hateful,” data from the Federal Bureau of Investigations shows a recent uptick in hate crimes, which it defines as “traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias.”
In 2015, the FBI reported over 5,000 hate crime incidents, with 72 having taken place in Florida. In 2016, the last year data was available, the agency reported over 6,000 hate crime incidents, with 96 having taken place in Florida.
Jpedersen@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5268 or @JoeMarPedersen on Twitter
