In this The Federalist article, Breccan F. Thies argues that Democrats are defending the Southern Poverty Law Center’s influence over government and corporate institutions despite the SPLC’s role in targeting conservative organizations.
- The article centers on a House Judiciary Committee hearing titled “The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate.”
- Thies says Rep. Jamie Raskin and Democrat witness Mary McCord defended the SPLC’s alleged use of informants by comparing it to law enforcement practices used by the FBI and other agencies.
- The author argues this comparison is improper because the SPLC is a private nonprofit with no government jurisdiction or public accountability.
- Alliance Defending Freedom’s Ryan Bangert testified that the SPLC’s influence goes beyond speech and becomes dangerous when it pressures government actors, banks, corporations, and tech platforms to punish ideological opponents.
- ADF itself is cited as one of the conservative Christian organizations labeled by the SPLC as a “hate group,” despite Bangert describing it as a mainstream pro-family legal organization.
- House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan argued there is a major difference between government-paid law enforcement informants and a private political organization allegedly funding sources while also influencing public policy and corporate decisions.
- The article claims the SPLC had regular contact with Biden administration officials and that its materials and training were used in government contexts, including by the Justice Department.
- Thies also highlights the SPLC-backed “Change the Terms” coalition, which Bangert said targeted conservative groups’ access to banking, payment processing, donor technology, and digital communications infrastructure.
- The broader argument is that the SPLC is not merely engaging in protected speech, but functioning as an unaccountable gatekeeper with the power to de-platform, de-bank, and isolate conservative organizations.
Read the full story: https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/10/democrats-defend-giving-splc-police-power-to-target-conservatives-with-impunity/
