Headlines on extremism and the radical right that caught our attention
through March 1.
Friend,
Every week, we highlight stories on extremism and the radical right
from the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project.
Here are stories that caught our attention over the past week:
Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Group Appears to Blame Trans Rights for Attacks on
Trans-Affirming Churches
* Hatewatch published an analysis piece
[link removed]
on a report from the anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Family Research
Council
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(FRC) that claimed to show an increase in "acts of
hostility" at U.S. churches in 2023. The analysis found
that attacks on LGBTQ+-affirming churches represented nearly 20%
of the total incidents documented by FRC. The FRC claimed the
report is evidence that LGBTQ+ civil rights create a threat to
Christians churches, without acknowledging that 20% of the
churches the report lists affirm LGBTQ+ rights.
* An expert told Hatewatch that such narratives are
"'political talking points' that attempt to
erase entire communities of LGBTQ+ Christians and faith
leaders."
Tucker Carlson Hosts Anti-Immigrant White Nationalist on X
* Hatewatch also published a story
[link removed]
on former Fox host Tucker Carlson's interview of Lydia
Brimelow, an officer of white nationalist hate group VDARE and
wife of the group's founder, Peter Brimelow. Brimelow
portrayed their organization as a victim of "cancel
culture." But VDARE has amplified the works of white
supremacist extremists and brought together the anti-immigrant
right and white nationalist movements, the article said. Despite
this, Carlson did not challenge Brimelow during the interview.
* Carlson, who departed Fox News in April 2023, has formed a
partnership with X, formerly known as Twitter. Tech billionaire
Elon Musk completed his purchase of then-Twitter in October
2022. Since then, some fringe and far-right extremists
previously banned on X have seen their accounts reinstated
[link removed]
.
Christopher Rufo and 'Dissident Right' IM-1776
* Christopher Rufo, a prominent figure in the right-wing
anti-LGBTQ+ culture war, has maintained a significant
association with IM-1776, a "dissident right"
magazine, The Guardian reported
[link removed]
on Feb. 21. IM-1776 consistently praises dictators, promotes
racist ideologies and attacks liberal democracy, according to
the report. The magazine's editors and writers advocate
for the repeal of the Civil Rights Act, celebrate figures like
the "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski and Italian
nationalist Gabriele D'Annunzio, and propagate conspiracy
theories about the Covid pandemic. Rufo wrote a manifesto for
the magazine on right-wing activism and encouraged his audience
to engage with it, the article claims.
* Hatewatch has previously reported on Rufo's fellowship
with The Danube Institute
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(DI), a Budapest nonprofit that receives most of its funding
from the Hungarian government. DI paid Rufo $35,000 for his
fellowship, which required him to give lectures on "topics
of critical race theory and LGBTQ propaganda," according
to the contract.
Antigovernment Groups Emboldened by Politicians' Border
Rhetoric
* State and federal politicians have spouted anti-immigrant
messaging that has emboldened antigovernment groups and
hard-right actors in Eagle Pass, Texas, and elsewhere along the
U.S.-Mexico border, Hatewatch reported
[link removed]
on Feb. 27. Elected officials are relying on anti-immigrant
messages to justify Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's response to a
showdown with the federal government, the impeachment of
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the failure
of an immigration reform package in the Senate.
* Antigovernment extremists and hard-right figures have mobilized
the "Take Back Our Border" convoy
[link removed]
throughout the country and ending in Texas, Arizona and
California. QAnon
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influencers, sovereign citizens
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, far-right conspiracy theorists and paramilitary-type groups
have all joined or supported the convoy, the article reported.
Read last week's edition here: Extremism Headlines: Neo-Nazi
rally, True the Vote election denial, Biggs at Proud Boys event
[link removed]
Sincerely,
Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center
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