SPLC Indictment Reactions

A federal fraud indictment against a civil rights nonprofit shocked many Americans.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Justice announced a criminal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, a 55-year-old civil rights group founded to help poor people in the American South fight Jim Crow-era segregation and discrimination.

Reactions to the indictment:

“We are outraged by the false allegations levied against SPLC — an organization that for 55 years has stood as a beacon of hope fighting white supremacy and various forms of injustice to create a multi-racial democracy where we can all live and thrive. Taking on violent hate and extremist groups is among the most dangerous work there is, and we believe it is also among the most important work we do. To be clear, this program saved lives.” — Bryan Fair, CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center

“Lemme get this straight A civil rights group is being criminally charged for paying informants to get info about the KKK & neo-Nazis that was then shared with law enforcement? That’s basically what the FBI does! Should they prosecute themselves?” — Norm Eisen, co-founder and publisher of The Contrarian, former ambassador, former White House ethics counsel

“Let’s be clear: The Trump Admin’s vendetta against the SPLC is a sign of how impactful their work is. The SPLC has been at the forefront of exposing some of America’s most notorious hate groups, like the KKK. The fact that the Trump Admin feels threatened by that speaks volumes.” — Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

“This indictment really is absurd. Trump’s DOJ and FBI are accusing the SPLC of sponsoring far-right extremism instead of combating it. Even though the FBI worked with SPLC to combat extremism until last year. The indictment is ridiculous.” — Tom Joscelyn, senior fellow at Just Security, former Jan. 6 Committee senior professional staffer and principal drafter of committee’s final report.

“The theory of the case -- that the SPLC defrauded donors by promising to “dismantle” hate groups while secretly paying informants inside said hate groups, a tactic that it has carried out for nearly half a century -- is completely absurd.” — Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council.

“The SPLC has spent decades tracking hate groups, including the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacist organizations. Republicans have increasingly accused the group of unfairly branding conservative and Christian organizations as extremists.” — Alt National Park Service

“The Trump administration is waging a vindictive campaign against the organizations that safeguard our democracy. Weaponizing the DOJ to indict long-standing watchdogs is a message: if you defend voting rights, fight white supremacy, or protect civil rights, you’re next. This is an assault on the institutions that make freedom real for everyone. They will not succeed.” — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

“Trump sees a “threat” and goes after it with any lever of power he can grasp. It’s the same story time and time again. But the “threat” that Trump sees is an organization that’s been at the forefront of the fight for a more equal and just society.” — Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ)

“Indictment of @splcenter.org is based on clear false narrative. False: DOJ and Kash Patel’s claim that SPLC supported white supremacist groups via paying informants. Reality: “We frequently shared what we learned from informants with local and federal law enforcement, including the FBI.” — Ryan Goodman, co-editor-in-chief of Just Security, chaired professor at New York University Law School, former special counsel in the Defense Department.

“According the AG Blanche, “The SPLC is manufacturing racism to justify its existence.” This is some whacked out far-right fantasy. Hard to imagine this theory will hold up in court, but the lives of paid informants who infiltrated hate groups will be at risk.” — Barb McQuade, University of Michigan Law School professor, MSNOW legal analyst, The Contrarian contributor, former U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan.

“I’ve seen a lot of shocking things in the last ten years, but as someone who has admired the work of the SPLC in documenting and calling out hate groups for decades, this is truly up there.” — Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin, founder of
the Gaia Leadership Project and The Ripple Effect Institute and host of
ResistanceLive on YT.

“Let’s be clear about what is happening. This government is using the full weight of federal prosecution to target an organization whose mission is rooting out violent extremism. This is part and parcel of Trump’s attack on free speech, on nonprofits, and one anyone who dares disagree with him. First it was lawfare against political
opponents. Then it was revoking the tax status of universities. Now it’s a federal indictment against one of the most historic civil rights organizations in America. The SPLC has saved lives. It will not be silenced — and neither will we.” — Sen.
Cory Booker (D-NJ)

“The DOJ uses paid informants all the time —why is it OK for them but not the SPLC? @splcenter plays a vital role in fighting hatred, yet has been unfairly targeted by Trump and House Republicans since day one. This politicized intimidation needs to stop, now.” — Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY), lead counsel of Trump Impeachment 1.0 and former assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

“The so-called indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center announced by Todd Blanche and Kash Patel is baseless and illegitimate. These partisan hacks who continue to weaponize the criminal justice system against perceived opponents will never intimidate us. And all of them will be held accountable for their corrupt
behavior no matter what it takes.” — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)

“By going after the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Trump administration has dramatically escalated its attack on civil rights organizations and its defense of white
supremacists. These intimidation tactics won’t succeed. “ — Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)

“The administration’s latest targeting of the Southern Poverty Law Center
marks another step in a progression of dangerous abuses of executive power and
another direct attack on the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits are essential to protecting communities, advancing civil rights, and strengthening civil society. Efforts to intimidate or silence them undermine the very institutions that sustain our democracy. The National Council of Nonprofits strongly condemns this misuse of authority and stands firmly with organizations facing politically motivated attacks.” — Diane Yentel, president & CEO The National Council of Nonprofits

“What should trouble any lover of liberty is that the right has had SPLC and other civil rights groups in its crosshairs for some time. This administration has been explicit about punishing anyone it perceives as an enemy and that is definitely how it perceives civil rights groups. It has now gone so far as to [indict] a mainstream civil rights organization that tracks hate, fights for voting rights and fights for work that pays and healthy care access, with crimes.” — Maya Wiley, president & CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights and author of “Remember You Are A Wiley,”

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