The Number of Hate Groups in DC May Surprise You

WASHINGTON, DC — The D.C. area may be a fairly progressive region when it comes to the ideology of its residents, but as the seat of the U.S. government, it's not surprising that this area draws quite a few racist organizations -- although you might be surprised at how many "hate groups" have been identified in the District by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Amusingly, D.C. features a diverse collection of hate groups. There are black separatist, white nationalist, anti-Muslim, anti-gay and anti-immigrant groups -- and even a few groups that defy categorization.

Four black separatist groups are listed on the site: Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge, Israel United in Christ, Nation of Islam and War on the Horizon. White nationalist groups include the Council for Social and Economic Studies, Scott-Townsend Publishers and the Militant Knights Ku Klux Klan.

The Southern Poverty Law Center classifies the Religious Awareness Network and Center for Security Policy as anti-Mulsim groups, the Family Research Council, Traditional Values Coalition and the Center for Family and Human Rights as anti-LGBT groups, the Federation for American Immigration Reform as an anti-immigrant group and the Barnes Review/Foundation for Economic Liberty Inc. as a holocaust denial group.

Then there are the ones that are a bit harder to classify and filed under "General Hate": As-Sabiqun, American Free Press and Active Democracy.

"These groups espouse a variety of rather unique hateful doctrines and beliefs that are not easily categorized," SPLC says in its general description of the General Hate category on its website. "This list includes a “Jewish” group that is rabidly anti-Arab, a “Christian” group that is anti-Catholic and a polygamous “Mormon” breakaway sect that is racist. Many of the groups are vendors that sell a miscellany of hate materials from several different sectors of the white supremacist movement."

You can view the full "hate map" here.

Image via Southern Poverty Law Center