These 23 Hate Groups are Operating in Illinois: Southern Poverty Law Center

The number of hate groups across the country has risen for the first time in three years, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. In 2015, there were 892 active hate groups across the United States.

In Illinois in 2015, there were 23 hate groups, an increase of two over 2014’s numbers.

So, what constitutes a hate group? The SPLC says “hate groups have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics.” Their activities include marches, speeches, meetings, rallies and criminal acts, according to the SPLC.

Here are the 23 hate groups active in Illinois according to the SPLC:

• Blood and Honour Social Club - Illinois (statewide)
  
• The Creativity Movement - Bloomington, Illinois
• Militant Knights Ku Klux Klan - Illinois (statewide)
• Divine International Church of the Web - Morton, Illinois
• New Black Panther Party - Springfield, Illinois
• Americans for Truth About Homosexuality - Naperville, Illinois
• Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment (H.O.M.E.) - Downers Grove, Illinois
• Sadistic Souls Racist Skinheads - Wood River, Illinois
• Illinois Family Institute - Carol Stream, Illinois
• Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - Clay City, Illinois
• All Eyes On Egypt Bookstore - Chicago, Illinois
• Nation of Islam - Chicago, Illinois
• Ecclesiastical Council for the Restoration of Covenant Israel (ECRCI) - Chicago, Illinois
• Resistance Records (Racist music) - Chicago, Illinois
• National Socialist Movement - Chicago, Illinois (statewide)
• Northern Hammerskins - Chicago, Illinois
• Black Riders Liberation Party - Chicago, Illinois
• Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge - Chicago, Illinois
• Israel United In Christ - Chicago, Illinois
• United Northern and Southern Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - Chicago, Illinois
• Nation of Islam - Rockford, Illinois
• Nation of Islam - East Saint Louis, Illinois
• World Congress of Families/Howard Center for Family, Religion, and Society - Rockford, Illinois

Whew! That’s a lot of hate. Here are some photos of puppies and kittens to cheer you up.

The top states in terms of hate group numbers are:

1. Texas: 81
2. California: 68
3. Florida: 58
4. New York: 44
5. Tennessee: 41
6. Pennsylvania: 40
7. Georgia: 39
8. Ohio: 34
9. Virginia: 32
10. North Carolina: 29

Photo: Patch Archives.