An Augusta-based Web site that promotes white supremacy, and is run by an organization considered to be a hate group by a national organization that tracks such sets, has seen an increase in traffic since the election of America's first black president.
Louis Andrews, president of the National Policy Institute, a "pro-white" Web site where individuals can purchase reading materials on the costliness of diversity and on the intelligence levels of blacks and whites, said his site has had a 20 percent increase in traffic over the past few months.
"I think there's a lot more interest in trying to solve the problems of race and ethnicity with the election of a black president and issues with immigration," Mr. Andrews said.
National Policy Institute is one of three local organizations that the Southern Poverty Law Center labels as a hate group promoting racial supremacy, said Heidi Beirich, a spokeswoman for the law center.
Nationally, there are 926 hate groups, which is a 4 percent increase between 2007 and 2008, according to the center's Intelligence Report that tracks growth of such organizations. Since 2000, the number of groups has jumped 54 percent.
Concerns about immigration and the flagging economy have influenced interest in these organizations, Ms. Beirich said.
"We also have the first African-American in the White House. That has freaked these groups out," she said. "They see the country as going to hell in a hand basket."
Two other local organizations, the New Black Panthers Party and the League of the South, are also listed as hate groups by the law center.
Bobby Price, chairman of Augusta's New Black Panthers Party, said the black nationalist organization formed in 1998 as a response to hate groups. He said the group, which opened an Augusta chapter in 2002, has not seen much growth because of the moderate views of most blacks.
"Most blacks believe that the country has moved in the right direction," Mr. Price said. "We believe that white society continues to disempower and discriminate against us based on our color."
The League of the South promotes states' rights and Anglo-Celtic culture in the South, said Ray McBerry, chairman of the Georgia chapter. Membership has grown over the past several months, but it has little to do with the president, he said.
"People are more and more concerned about the illegal immigration issue and insecurity with the federal government," he said. "We are not a racial group."
The law center has not received any reports of violence from these organizations.
Paulwyn Boliek, co-chairman for the Blue Ribbon Committee on Race Relations, said racism continues to be an issue in Augusta. His committee formed in 2002 and reports any instances of racism to the Augusta Commission and suggests ideas to alleviate it, Mr. Boliek said.
"We have to learn to socialize across those lines," he said. "We have made significant progress, but we're not there yet."
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
By the numbers
Organizations labeled by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups
926 in the U.S.
40 in Georgia
3 in Augusta
Augusta groups' statements
NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY: History has proven that the white man is absolutely disagreeable to get along with in peace. No one has been able to get along with the white man. All the people of color have been subjected to the white man's wrath.
LEAGUE OF THE SOUTH: We believe that the advancement of Anglo-Celtic culture and civilisation is vital in order to preserve our region as we know it. Should this core be destroyed or displaced the South would be made over in an alien image -- unfamiliar and inhospitable to our children and grandchildren.
NATIONAL POLICY INSTITUTE: White Americans have been led to believe that "diversity" and "multiculturalism" are sacred. We're conditioned to be shy when it comes to standing up for our own beliefs.
Sources: Web sites for the New Black Panther Party, League of the South and National Policy Institute
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
From the perspective of the three Augusta hate groups, their statements are true. They each focus on their perspective to the exclusion of all others. I guess that's the definition of hate in this case. Doesn't that mean all community organizations, churches, clubs, focus groups, etc. are hate groups too? Since none condone violence, why just pick out these three? And, as far as racism being an issue in Augusta, who knew? In comparison, which city in America doesn't have a race issue?
OMG!!! Go to the Southern Poverty Law Center site. Read who these pitiful, white guilt freaks are. Hard core "progressives" who make a damn fine living off of "righting the wrongs" , as they define them, of others. Read their guide line for "hate group". This entire article is based on the fringe beliefs of a radical fringe group of anti-white American lawyers. Needlessly incendiary? Well, maybe just a lot.
Well last night I had proof that I was not a racist. While sitting at Ryan's eating I ran into a black couple I hadn't seen in years and we had a very pleasant conversattion. In came a family of skinny,old, scruffy tattoed white trash ( one wearing a t-shirt with wording to the effect of eating a certain part of a woman's anatomy) and sat down near us. If I was management I would have told them to leave. Right then and there I knew I was not a racist. You know I have a distain for certain people both black and white when their life style gets out of the 'norm'. What am I classified as?
jebko, you're a white racist for not saying anything to the offensive white people, just like you'd be a white racist if you did say something to equally offensive black people. It's all perspective. Oh, and the black couple you had dinner with, they wuz jus ackin white.
Jebko, A huge % of the "black / white" issue is just plain crap. If you enjoy someone's company, it's not an issue, except to those with a personal racial problem. For me personally, I'm allowed to have friends and enemies and acquaintances and tolerances and associates. Race doesn't seem to be a qualifying criteria.
No, I think my 'label' should be " CULTURIST ". You see I was raised by God fearing, hard working Depression Era parents in a small community that had caring God fearing Depression Era citizens ( black & white). My little behind has been torn up by my black nanny many times ( with permission of my parents) and then wore out again when they got home. I played with black and whites as child. I feel like I know what makes a human being a 'good' person... it's culture... how 'da wuz raised'.
Whites have demonstrated their hatred & violence from historical data which should be grounds for prosecution and labeled "hate group." There are still unsolved murders from the 60s & 70s where law enforcement has failed to find killers of minorities. Where are the unsolved murders of whites thought committed by minorities? There are none. So how can the Panthers be called a hate group? There is no evidence. But of course, they don't need no stinking evidence for some folks. And "we" know who those people are.
Justus-----sometimes you make sense.....today, nothing but proof of your ignorance.
Well we know who the Augusta member are. You have to give them their due. The ones from Augusta were members before Obama was elected. I say more power to them. Join any group you wish.
Damn , you must be the National Spokesman for this group PT? You have at least 4 posts on this subject. I guess it's that pride of being a member that has you so giddy and gabby this morning?
I think all these groups including Justus's, New Black Panthers are hate groups. Only someone in the local nutt house could read their statement above and not think otherwise. Maybe they let him have a computer in that padded room of his. Well Hypo, your right we know who the Augusta members of the New Black Panthers are too.
Don't know who they are but I know who were member of the Black Panther Party.
jebko you and God appear to be looking on the heart; you are in good company.
Just goes to show that ignorance is still among us. Pitiful.
my favorite thing about reading justus4's posts is the knowledge that his brand of cowardice enjoys post-n-run tactics: he'll write anything, but never return to defend a single word of his drivel. as far as hate groups go, i think it is pretty well established by now that poor whites blame everyone for their problems but themselves and poor blacks do the same. the rest of us have our biases and prejudices - for example, i treat a group of slow-moving black youths with caution because i view them as potentially hostile - but nothing that approaches hatred.
Black and whites make me sick with some of their postings on this subject. I too had a good Christian upbringing as a child. We kids in my family were sternly warned against being disrespectful towards anybody of a different color, nationality, or anything different. And, we knew better than to use the "N" word unless we wanted our mouths washed out with soap! As an adult now I still get offended when I hear someone use the "N" word. In fact my jaw dropped the 1st time I heard a black person use to "N" word towards another black person. There are so many hateful people in here making hateful comments about others who are different. There is very little love of the Lord in here and it shows in the comments of both the blacks and whites posting in here.
Pat Thomas , Come on Man!
oH bOY!
And which city in America doesn't have a race issue?
One line in the article rings true: "We have to learn to socialize across those lines." We all work with people of all races, but when we go home, we usually go home to a predominantly (insert color) neighborhood, socialize at either a white or black club and on Sunday worship in a black or white church. Yes there are excecptions, but they are not the norm. We have a long way to go. And I think of lot of this is not really a color issue, it's a "class" issue.
And That's What I Love About the South!
Justus, you mentioned unsolved murders of minorities from the 60"s and 70's. Did it ever occur to your dumb a$$ the robbing, rape and murder young blacks are doing today. Every night on the local news its blacks robbing another curb market. According to you and your jerkweed buddies the black crime problem has been caused by the white man because blacks today will not take responsibility for the out of control black crime in the US.
This is a free country.But I find fascinating some of the points of view! It's almost as if there really are Two different worlds existing on the same plane!Question?Do These groups believe in the constitution?Do they believe that it applies to everyone?Do they think its ok to disregard one part of the Declaration of Independence and try to enforce another.You're either an american or you're not.This trying to deprive one another of their freedoms and rights under the Declaration of independence is not american!Question how can one come to dislike people that they've never met?Or if they encounterd them it was for like 45seconds?Anger almost always is displaced.The people that these people should actually be angry at almost always are sitting back laughing while those persons go at everyone except who they ought to!!
I hate the way people throw the word 'retarded' around. I find it just as offensive as the 'N' word.
Well APEX we know whites never rob, rape or murder anyone. It's Obama plan to keep the white man down.
Yawn...
Is AUSTIN RHODES AND RUSH LIMBAUGH charter members of this group? I believe so.
That was not what the Oh Boy was for Pat, If you read the Jacksonville Journal (AKA) Florida Times Union or the Beaver County Times those comments look just like the Chronicle. lol The Oh boy was that sometimes you, of all people , just need to SHUT UP!
RUSH LIMBAUGH an uneducated con man, punked Michael Steele.
Michael Steele's reign is over. Rush has crushed him. I thought he would do a good job , but oh well I'm not a Rep
Think tanks??????
Anyone involved in those hate groups are insecure, pathetic, losers and scum. Why does anyone give these groups publicity? They have the right to their opinions, and free speech, but why does the paper find these people newsworthy? Everyone I know views all of those groups with great contempt, disgust, and revulsion.