Friend,

Authorities have now charged more than 300 people with crimes in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, including two men charged with assault on the police officer who was killed and at least four dozen who are affiliated with the QAnon ideology or far-right extremist groups including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

But despite the arrests and a vigorous federal investigation, the extremist ideologies and conspiracy theories that fueled the attack aren’t going away anytime soon. In fact, extremists have exploited new digital technologies to create a broader, more decentralized movement – and a web-based infrastructure that is helping their leaders raise millions of dollars to fund their activities.

Years in the making, this movement – based on white supremacy and a rejection of our pluralistic society and democratic values – was turbocharged by Donald Trump’s presidency. And, though Trump’s influence has begun to wane, it will likely continue to grow more militant and spawn violence and acts of terror long after Trump has faded from the political scene.

As the federal government and anti-racist groups mobilize to combat this threat, the financing of extremists in this increasingly decentralized landscape is a major concern.

Monetizing extremist content 

In the past, hate groups raised money by means such as charging dues, selling products or requiring the purchase of uniforms. The funds were then used to pay for the distribution of propaganda and other recruitment efforts. Some groups, like the antigovernment group Oath Keepers, which has thousands of dues-paying members, still use this model.

Today, though, many white power groups and personalities are raising money through crowdfunding and the distribution of propaganda itself across a variety of platforms. The solicitation of donations during live video streaming, for example, is emerging as a major source of revenue.

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Sincerely,

Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center