Friend,

Katie Rinderle was terminated from her position as a schoolteacher in Cobb County, Georgia, in May 2023 after reading My Shadow Is Purple — a picture book promoting inclusivity selected by her students and purchased at the school’s book fair — to her class. The SPLC is currently representing Rinderle as she challenges the school board’s decision.

The case could have a widespread impact on slowing the tide of school censorship, whitewashing in education, racial and LGBTQ+ discrimination, suppression of truth and book bans nationwide. By November of last year, 22 state legislatures had passed 40 “gag order” laws or policies that censor topics involving race, and 17 states have passed 26 anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) laws since 2021. Already, lawmakers have introduced 429 additional anti-LGBTQ+ bills in 2024 legislative sessions.

The SPLC works to expose the influence of hate and extremist groups and dismantle white supremacy. We investigate extremists and hold their leaders accountable for their attempts to sow division and destroy our nation. We promote anti-racist, anti-bias action that prevents radicalization and moves us closer to our vision of safe, resilient communities celebrating diversity and inclusion.

In addition to advocating for Rinderle, in 2023, the SPLC…

• Published U.S. Youth Attitudes on Guns, a groundbreaking study on gun violence, in partnership with the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University (PERIL) and Everytown for Gun Safety. The research draws a connection between gun culture and radicalization, serving as an invaluable guide for communities trying to reduce gun-related violence.

• Testified at the United Nations on human rights violations, hate crimes and attacks on voting in the U.S. during the review of the country’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

• Uncovered and helped derail the formation of a neo-Nazi “Blood Tribe” compound in rural Maine.

• Successfully advocated for the removal of a large Confederate memorial from Arlington National Cemetery through our Whose Heritage program.

• Released Combating Anti-LGBTQ+ Pseudoscience Through Accessible Informative Narratives (CAPTAIN), a report exposing and debunking the vast network of anti-LGBTQ+ junk science influencing state and federal legislation.

Thank you for being a partner in our fight for inclusion, equity and justice for all — will you join us in our future work by making a special gift to the SPLC today?

Sincerely,

Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center