Illinois Home to 21 Hate Groups: Guess Which Suburbs Make the List

A new analysis by a nonprofit organization that monitors hate groups throughout the country shows a predictable lack of diversity in Illinois hate groups, with 21 groups identified.

Nine of the groups are white supremacist, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s American hate map recently released. Half a dozen are black separatists, primarily Nation of Islam chapters. Four are anti-LGBT and two are dubbed “Christian identity” groups.

[ Perspective ]

The three suburban groups — Americans for Truth About Homosexuality in Naperville; Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment in Downers Grove and the Illinois Family Institute in Carol Stream — each have a good hate on for homosexuals.

With the traditional, perennial Klan, represented by the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, we have a few unusual names, such as the Northern Hammerskins and the White Boy Society.

The top states in terms of hate group numbers are:

1. California: 57
2. Florida: 50
3. New York: 44
4. New Jersey: 40
5. Pennsylvania: 38
6. Tennessee: 29
7. Georgia: 28
8. Ohio: 27
9. Virginia: 27
10. North Carolina: 24

The data collected by the SPLC for the national hate map covered for the 2014 calendar year.

“This list was compiled using hate group publications and websites, citizen and law enforcement reports, field sources and news reports,” says the SPLC. “Hate group activities can include criminal acts, marches, rallies, speeches, meetings, leafleting or publishing. Websites appearing to be merely the work of a single individual, rather than the publication of a group, are not included in this list. Listing here does not imply a group advocates or engages in violence or other criminal activity.”

“I HATE ILLINOIS NAZIS”

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