Southern Poverty Law Center tracked Wisconsin shooter.

[RandySF]

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that has studied hate crimes for decades, reported Monday that Page was a frustrated neo-Nazi who had been the leader of a racist white-power band known as End Apathy.

Heidi Beirich, director of the center's intelligence project, said her group had been tracking Page since 2000, when he tried to purchase goods from the National Alliance, a well-known hate group.

The National Alliance was led by William Pierce, who was the author of "The Turner Diaries." The book depicts a violent revolution in the United States leading to an overthrow of the federal government and, ultimately, a race war. Parts of the book were found in Timothy McVeigh's getaway car after the bombing of the federal building Oklahoma City in 1995.

Beirich said there was "no question" Page was an ardent follower and believer in the white supremacist movement. She said her center had evidence that he attended "hate events" around the country.


http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/shooter-wade-page-was-army-vet-white-supremacist-856cn28-165123946.html

[Lifelong Protester]

1. And the Fox News Propaganda machine

keeps rollin' on...giving voice to those in power who are whipping these guys up.

[midnight]

2. Do we understand ways to make peace with all this hate? Wis. has a gov. who's strategy is divide

and conquer. This income inequality has the potential to bring out fear in those who may already be suffering from this divide and conquer strategy!

[Heather MC]

3. So they think shooting a bunch of innocent people will start a war

there is no logic in this. I keep hearing about this impending race war. I just want you all to know I will not be participating. I will be getting my nails done that day

[derwillemacht]

4. SPLC Quasi-governmental Enforcers for Political Correctness

"Heidi Beirich, director of the intelligence project for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, said her unit had been following Page since 2000, when he tried to make purchases from the National Alliance, which the SPLC described as having once been 'America’s most important hate group.'"

This sounds as if the government were tracking someone who attempted to purchase illegal drugs, but the Southern Poverty Law Center, despite appearances, is a private organization, and "hate material" is not illegal, the SPLC's disdain for free speech notwithstanding.

How did they go about obtaining this information? Did they do so legally? And will you be next?

[Fumesucker]

6. Welcome to DU!

I hope you enjoy your stay!

[nc4bo]

8. Short clip, if you go to :37, Mark Potok, SPLC

You will see exactly what type of people or groups of people SPLC targets.

http://www.wral.com/news/video/11398098/#/vid11398098

Unless you are associated with hateful, bigoted, racists and possibly violent group, you have nothing at all to be concerned about.

Do you fit into that category?

[CJCRANE]

10. Um...free speech works for both sides...

that's what RWers don't seem to understand.

The SPLC are perfectly within their rights to make their views known.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. Yes, the evil, nefarious SPLC are the ones we have to be worried about in this situation.

[xchrom]

13. so, are your feelings hurt that you can't spew racial hatred or religious bigotry

w/out being called out?

and if you mark that spewing of racial or religious hatred with threats of violence -- no one should pay attention and notice?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

14. Posting from a compound in Utah no doubt.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. There's nothing "quasi-governmental" about the SPLC

and they never hold themselves out to be anything like that. If you have reason to believe that they gather data illegally, report them to your favorite governmental enforcer.

[uppityperson]

16. "free speech"= hateful bigotry? oh dear, how awful.

[uponit7771]

17. Oh dear, stochastic terrorism is illegal...soooooo yeah, kkkons should stop hating Americans

...thx

[grantcart]

19. I can confirm that you are on the list.

[freshwest]

20. Ah, just being cruel, now. He's been PPR'd and can't talk back.

[grantcart]

21. he can read and worry

[freshwest]

23. Yes, we have his ISP, name and home address now. Muahaha...

Well, somebody does...

[stevenleser]

22. Doch, du bist ein Esel

mit kleine schwanz.

Sincerely
Stefan H. von Leser

[1-Old-Man]

5. And pray tell what good "tracking him" did?

[hlthe2b]

7. SPLC shares this information with law enforcement... Not SPLC's role to take action... However...

if you are unaware, SPLC has been instrumental, through legal civil actions in effecting the financial disbanding of a number of hate groups.

I'm surprised that some here would be so critical of this very important and vital group and its work towards exposing the activities of these emerging hate groups. They are hardly acting as an overly PC protective agent as has been suggested by our new poster upstream.

[JanMichael]

9. I am not surprised to see these posters on DU at all

All the social media sites seem to be picking up a number of "odd" comments over the past couple of months-

[UnrepentantLiberal]

12. To keep track neo-nazis.

What harm do you think it did?

[ellisonz]

18. Can we stop arming Neo-Nazis in this country now? n/t