FBI Director Kash Patel announced the bureau is severing its relationship with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), accusing the organization of becoming a “partisan smear machine.” Patel criticized the SPLC’s use of a “hate map” that identifies alleged anti-government and hate groups in the U.S. This move marks a significant shift in the FBI’s longstanding partnerships with civil rights groups, as Patel seeks to reshape the federal law enforcement agency.
The SPLC, founded and based in Montgomery by Morris Dees and Joe Levin back in 1971, has been a prominent legal and advocacy group focused on civil rights. Over the years, it has played a crucial role in desegregation efforts and has been instrumental in dismantling white supremacist groups through legal victories. Despite its achievements, the SPLC has faced criticism from conservatives who argue it unfairly maligns their viewpoints.
The controversy intensified following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, with renewed scrutiny on the SPLC’s characterization of Turning Point USA, a group Kirk founded. The SPLC’s report, “The Year in Hate and Extremism 2024,” described Turning Point as “A Case Study of the Hard Right in 2024,” drawing criticism from figures like Elon Musk…