March 5, 2013
Dear Friend of the Center,
Dear Friend of the Center,
Today, we've written
to top U.S. law enforcement officials warning them of the growing threat of
domestic terrorism from far-right antigovernment extremist groups. These
organizations are growing more militant by the day as Congress debates gun
control.
Our annual count
of extremist groups, also released today, shows that armed militias and other
antigovernment groups surged to 1,360 in 2012 – an all-time high and an 813
percent rise since President Obama took office.
At the same time,
hate groups – neo-Nazis, white nationalists, racist skinheads, and others
– remained at near-record levels.
Our letter to
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
urges them to create a new task force to ensure the government is devoting the
resources needed to address domestic terrorism.
We're seeing ominous threats from extremists who believe the government is poised
to take their guns. It's the same type of atmosphere we saw in the mid-1990s when
we warned then-Attorney General Janet Reno of the danger. Six months later,
militia sympathizer Timothy McVeigh bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City,
killing 168 men, women, and children.
The potential for another deadly attack is real – and clearly rising. It's
critically important that federal officials take this threat seriously.
With your support, we will continue to press for action and to expose the
activities of the radical right. And, we'll provide key intelligence and resources
to law enforcement officials to help them fight violent extremists.
Thank you for standing with us in this crucial effort.
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Sincerely,
 Morris Dees Founder, Southern Poverty Law Center |
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