Number of US white nationalist groups falls as extremist views go mainstream
Source: The Guardian
Thu 22 May 2025 14.47 EDT
Last modified on Thu 22 May 2025 14.56 EDT
The number of white nationalist, hate and anti-government extremist groups in the US has dropped not because of their declining influence, but because many of their proponents feel their beliefs have become normalized in government and mainstream society, according to a new report by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
The SPLC’s annual Year in Hate and Extremism report, published on Thursday, said it documented 1,371 hate and extremist groups across the country in 2024, down from 1,430 groups in 2023. These groups use “political, communication, violent, and online tactics to build strategies and training infrastructure to divide the country, demoralize people, and dismantle democracy”, the non-profit group said.
The 5% drop in hate and extremist groups in 2024 can be attributed to the fact that many feel a lesser sense of urgency to organize, because their beliefs have infiltrated politics, education and society in general, according to the report. In 2024, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives became “ground zero” for many of these groups, the report said, some using threats of violence and “creating chaos that opened the door for political strongmen and authoritarian measures”.
These efforts built a foundation for nationwide policy actions to follow by Donald Trump, including legislative measures to restrict discussions of race and gender in classrooms, and cutting funding for programs that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/22/white-nationalist-hate-extremist-groups
Link to SPLC PRESS RELEASE - SPLC Releases Annual Year in Hate & Extremism Report, Finds Hard-Right Groups Tightening Grip and Influencing Our Democracy
Link to REPORT page - The Year in Hate and Extremism 2024
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