Kerby Anderson

The editors of National Review said it best with their headline, “Manufacturing Racism.” They were talking about the recent revelations about the Southern Poverty Law Center. A half century ago, when it began, it was doing responsible work by pointing to racism and encouraging laws and governments to bring about change.

Two weeks ago, the Department of Justice announced an 11-count indictment against the center on charges of wire fraud, false statements to a bank, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Apparently, the leaders had been secretly funding informants and providing funds to racist organizations. Essentially, manufacturing racism to supposedly fight racism.

An even greater concern for many Christian organizations has been the center’s attempt to label worthwhile Christian and conservative groups with “the hate label.” Their so-called research led the group to attack groups like the Family Research Council, American Family Association, Alliance Defending Freedom, Focus on the Family, Turning Point USA, and Moms for Liberty.

We have also learned that the federal government has used their materials to indoctrinate soldiers and encourage federal agencies to investigate law-abiding Americans. We have been told by some of those leaders that Christian nationalists and conservative haters are the greatest threat to America’s security.

Will this indictment lead to convictions.? When we discussed the issue on my radio program, we concluded that it may not result in criminal convictions, even though the center was certainly defrauding their donor base.

The latest news has been an embarrassment for the center and has served to educate many Americans about the harm they have inflicted on worthwhile organizations.