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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 10 March 2022
SPLC report: Hate groups in decline as views hit mainstream

By AARON MORRISON charged in relation to their
Associated Press role in the Capitol attack,
The number of white na- according to the law cen-
tionalist, neo-Nazi and ter.
anti-government extremist “After Jan. 6, in the im-
groups across the U.S. fell mediate aftermath, these
for a third straight year in groups did lay low,” Susan
2021, even as some groups Corke, SPLC’s Intelligence
were reinvigorated by the Project director, told the
Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. AP. “I had a moment of
Capitol last year and by hope that was quickly ex-
the ongoing culture wars tinguished when I didn’t
over the pandemic and see more mainstream Re-
school curriculums. publicans condemn these
In its annual report, released groups.”
Wednesday, the Southern The extremist ideas ex-
Poverty Law Center said it pressed by active hate and
identified 733 active hate anti-government groups
groups in 2021, down from “are increasingly normal-
the 838 counted in 2020 ized,” Corke added.
and the 940 counted in Beyond the Capitol attack,
2019. Hate groups had risen the law center’s report de-
to a historic high of 1,021 in tails how several factions
2018, said the law center, White nationalist demonstrators walk into Lee park surrounded by counter demonstrators in of the far right movement
which tracks racism, xeno- Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. have been reinvigorated
phobia and far right militias. Associated Press by political wedge issues.
The number of anti-gov- more openly in the political alists who were linked to the former President Donald Issues fueling active hate
ernment groups fell to 488 mainstream,” says the new “Stop the Steal” rally that Trump. Separately on Tues- and anti-government ex-
in 2021, down from 566 in report, shared with The As- preceded the Jan. 6 Capi- day, Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, tremist groups include the
2020 and 576 in 2019. Such sociated Press ahead of its tol attack. The law center a longtime leader of the banning of critical race
groups peaked at 1,360 in release. counted 98 active white far-right Proud Boys extrem- theory and books that
2012, the year former Presi- The Montgomery, Ala- nationalist groups in 2021. ist group, was arrested on a discuss LGBTQ identity in
dent Barack Obama was bama-based law center The report’s release comes conspiracy charge related public schools, coronavirus
elected to a second term. cited several examples in- one day after a federal jury to his alleged role in coordi- vaccine and mask man-
“Rather than demonstrat- cluding Fox News’ Tucker convicted a Texas man of nating the Capitol attack. dates, and immigration.
ing a decline in the power Carlson, whose discussion storming the Capitol with a Active Proud Boys chap- “This movement is working
of the far right, the drop- of a conspiracy likening im- holstered handgun, in an ters jumped to 72 in 2021, feverishly to undermine de-
ping numbers of organized migration from nonwhite attempt to obstruct Con- up from 43 in 2020. The rise mocracy, but what’s more
hate and anti-government countries to a “great re- gress’ joint session to certify in chapters was notewor- startling is that they are also
groups suggest that the placement” of white Amer- the Electoral College vote thy considering that more coalescing around a will-
extremist ideas that mo- icans last September was that cemented President than three dozen members ingness to engage in vio-
bilize them now operate welcomed by white nation- Joe Biden’s victory over of the group had been lence,” Corke said.q

55 tons of lettuce fed to Florida’s

starving manatees

typically do during cold and other sources is killing vided $8 million for several
months. the seagrass on which the seagrass restoration proj-
Officials from the Florida marine mammals rely. ects that will get off the
Fish and Wildlife Conserva- Through Feb. 25 this year, ground this year, officials
tion Commission and U.S. about 375 confirmed man- said. But it won’t be an im-
Fish and Wildlife Service atee deaths have been re- mediate solution.
said in a conference call corded. “We’re not solving the sea-
that the feeding program That compares to 389 dur- grass issue in a year,” said
has made a difference. ing the same period last Tom Reinert of the Florida
“That’s a substantial year; both are far above wildlife commission.
amount,” said Ron Mezich, the 136 deaths reported There are currently about
An adult and young manatee swim together in a canal, Feb. 16,
2022, in Coral Gables, Fla. feeding program coordi- in 2020 during the first two 7,500 manatees, also
Associated Press nator for the Florida wild- months. known as sea cows, living
life commission. “We’re not More than 80 rescued in Florida waters.
By CURT ANDERSON being destroyed by water done yet.” manatees are currently be- They are listed federally as
Associated Press pollution, wildlife officials The unprecedented feed- ing cared for at facilities in a threatened species, al-
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) said Wednesday. ing response came after Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico though there are efforts to
— More than 55 tons of The lettuce, funded by a record 1,100 manatees and Ohio, according to give them the heightened
lettuce have been fed to more than 1,000 individual died last year, largely be- Terri Calleson of the U.S. Fish endangered designation.
starving Florida manatees donations, is offered to cause of starvation. and Wildlife Service. Some The approach of warmer
as part of an experimental manatees that gather in The problem requires a of those are abandoned weather means manatees
program to help the slow- the warm water discharge long-term solution because calves that typically take will disperse to areas where
moving marine mammals near a power plant on pollution from agriculture, longer to recover.Florida food is more plentiful, offi-
since their natural food is Florida’s east coast as they septic tanks, urban runoff legislators last year pro- cials said.q