Hate Groups in the US - Essay Example

Hate groups are known to be more prevalent in the United States of America (USA) with a constant rise in the numbers and the Southern Poverty Law Centre (SPLC), 2011 has shown over 1000 active hate groups (Roy, 2002). The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the SPLC are the two main organizations in the USA that monitor hate groups and help maintain law and order. (Roy, 2002) Various reasons and explanations have been put forward by researchers as to why such hate groups exist, the main factors being: the economic crisis, antipathy towards the immigrating crowd, political turmoil, change of governments and minor groups not being given equal opportunities. Reasons can be plenty but none justify their existence and the fact that the US government is unable to eradicate such groups. SPLC maintains a list of these groups and supports the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in its fight against these radical groups. The hate groups demonstrate their views through speeches, meetings, rallies and criminal acts of violence as well to prove their point (Roy, 2002).

The SPLC had listed 926 active hate groups in 2008 within the US, the most well-known groups being: Ku Klux Klan, Neo Nazi, White power Skinheads, Black Separatists, Anti-Muslims and White Nationalists amongst many others (Roy, 2002).

The Ku Klux Klan is one of the oldest hate groups in the US. The first Klan originated in 1865 and faded out in 1870. The second Klan came into being in 1915 and survived until 1944. The Klan revived again in the 1950s and has a strong presence across the US today. They have always segregated themselves by their costumes- long robes, masks and pointed conical hats (Roy, 2002). Many influential politicians are known to have been members of this Klan. They have essentially practised racism, antipathy towards immigrants, and racial discrimination against blacks and incorporated violent measures like using bombs and killing people mercilessly, committing murders and getting away with it. Today the entire community considers them to be more terrorists than just a malevolent group (Roy, 2002).

The other hate group that is prevalent in the US is the xenophobic Skinheads. They are extremists promoting white supremacy and hatred towards the Jews in particular. They also have a dress code that differentiates them from other groups. They shave their heads, wear combat boots, flight jackets, and jeans and sport a lot of tattoos on their bodies, the designs being more of Nazi origins. This group came into being in the 1960s with radical views on racism and Jews. They have been known for being violent with Asian immigrants and transsexuals. The presence of these racist skinheads is found in most of the other hate groups including the Ku Klux Klan (Roy, 2002).