The Southern Poverty Law Center ( SPLC ) and The John Birch Society

[FrankRep]

SPLC and The John Birch Society (http://www.jbs.org/component/content/article/1006-quick-hits/6147-splc-and-the-john-birch-society)


Bill Hahn | John Birch Society (http://www.jbs.org/)
29 March 2010


While reporting on a story regarding the militia arrests in Michigan, reporter Lou Hillman at Fox 11 News in Green Bay, Wisconsin talked to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Those of you not familiar with them can search on this site as well as TheNewAmerican.com (http://www.TheNewAmerican.com/) for previous articles written about them. Being on the hard left, they and JBS have never quite seen eye-to-eye. Some in the Constitutional movement see it as a badge of honor to be on one of their watch lists. They see racists, anti-Semites and skinheads under every rock, and they have tried very hard to smear the John Birch Society with very loose connections to the aforementioned low-lifes.

Anyway, we got a call today from Mr. Hillman who asked for our response to some of the SPLC's caustic rhetoric. Kudos go to him for asking about what most reporters take from the SPLC for granted. It's refreshing to see a reporter check with both sides, rather than leave one side with no opportunity to refute.

We haven't seen the story yet, so we aren't certain how JBS is portrayed. According to Mr. Hillman, the claim made about JBS by the SPLC is that "The John Birch Society is probably the number one organization that provides the conspiracy theories that fuel the anti-government world."

JBS CEO Arthur Thompson was given the opportunity to discuss this during a taped segment that occurred in our Appleton offices this afternoon. In a nutshell, Mr. Thompson responded that JBS has provided lots of educational materials over the years that identify threats to our Constitutional Republic. The literature also recommends avenues for responsible and respectful action that mostly entail educating local leaders and elected officials within each person's sphere of influence. Members and supporters have repeatedly been reminded that violence an appropriate action for civic minded citizens and that they should even avoid public demonstrations, protests and events that may place them into harm's way.

The JBS reports on those individuals and groups that continue to work against the best interests of this country. Since we believe this to be the case with the SPLC, you will continue to see them covered here and in The New American.


SOURCE:
http://www.jbs.org/component/content/article/1006-quick-hits/6147-splc-and-the-john-birch-society



On the SPLC:

Resurrecting the Right-wing Militia Bogeyman
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/1664

Southern Poverty Law Center Once Again Using Smearing Tactics to Stifle Debate Based on Facts
http://www.jbs.org/jbs-news-feed/462-southern-poverty-law-center-once-again-using-smearing-tactics-to-stifle-debate-based-on-facts

Homeland Security: Everyone's a Threat
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/1053

Do You Fit the Terrorist Profile?
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/934

Profiling and Criminalizing Political Dissent
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/911-profiling-and-criminalizing-political-dissent

Terror, Lies & Memos
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/crime/432

Criminalizing Dissent
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/crime/906

[FrankRep]

The News Article is released:


SPLC: Wisconsin home to militia-related groups (http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/wisconsin-home-militia-related-groups)


Lou Hillman | Fox 11 News
29 Mar 2010


The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) says Wisconsin is home to several militia-related groups. The warning comes after nine suspects tied to a Christian militia in the Midwest were charged with conspiring against law enforcement.

According to federal court documents, members of a group called Hutaree conspired to kill a police officer and then attack their funeral in the hopes of killing more law enforcement officers. Suspects were arrested in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

The FBI tells FOX 11 it does not believe Hutaree has connections to Wisconsin, but those who study militia groups say it is a definite possibility.

"This militia group was connected well enough to the larger militia and patriot movement that they may well have knew some folks in Wisconsin but I can't be sure," said Heidi Beirich, with the Southern Poverty Law Center. The SPLC studies hate issues in the United States.

According to SPLC researchers, in 2009, there were 512 designated "patriot" groups in the country. 127 of those groups were believed to be militias. In Wisconsin, researchers identified 13 "patriot" groups. None of those groups which were believe to be militias.

"These are extreme anti-government groups, they're not para-military but they believe the same kinds of things," said Beirich, of the "patriot" groups.

One of the Wisconsin organizations identified as a "patriot" group is the John Birch Society in Grand Chute.

"They are probably one of the number one organizations that provide the conspiracy theories that fuel the anti-government world," said Beirich.

The group, however, says its goal is to help protect people's independence and freedom. Although, CEO Arthur Thompson admits the group's literature and website are popular among active militia groups.

"A lot of times they use it to recruit with but that doesn't mean we support their policies of how they want to implement what they believe in. We believe in a lot of things but we don't believe in coercion or violence to promote what we believe in," said Thompson.

Militia-related activity is nothing new in Northeast Wisconsin. In the 1970's, a gun-wielding group called the Posse Comitatus tried to set up its own community in Shawano County. The group was led by James Wickstrom.

The Posse Comitatus eventually disbanded after its compound was raided. But some are certain similar factions of anti-government militias still exist in the area.

"They hate the government and when I say hate, I mean, they're talking about revolution," said Beirich.

Beirich says the militia-related groups feel the federal government is enemy number one.


SOURCE:
http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/wisconsin-home-militia-related-groups

[FrankRep]

Study: Wisconsin Home To Militia-like Groups (http://www.wtaq.com/news/articles/2010/mar/29/study-wisconsin-home-militia-groups/)


WTAQ News Talk
March 29, 2010


GREEN BAY, Wis. (WTAQ) - Following the raid of a militia group in Michigan, the focus turns to the possibility of a connection to Wisconsin. FBI officials told FOX 11 that they don't believe there's a connection. But, the Southern Poverty Law Center's Heidi Beirich says there could be.

Researchers with the group say in 2009, there were 512 "patriot" groups. with 127 defined as what could be "militia" groups. In Wisconsin, the same study found 12 "patriot" groups and no "militia" groups. One of them is the John Birch Society in Grand Chute. Heidi Beirich with the Southern Poverty Law Center contends they're one of the biggest contributors of conspiracy theories that fuel anti-government sentiment.

But John Birch Society CEO Arthur Thompson says the groups' literature and website is popular with militia groups, their goal is to protect people's independence and freedom, not violence to promote their beliefs.

To see the full Southern Poverty Law Center list, go to this link:

hxxp://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/spring/active-patriot-groups-in-the-united-s


SOURCE:
http://www.wtaq.com/news/articles/2010/mar/29/study-wisconsin-home-militia-groups/

[Aratus]

has anyone correlated the extremely popular video and computer games that since the
mid-1990s have promoted a paramilitary mindframe, from 'doom' onwards to splinter-cell?

[pcosmar]

has anyone correlated the extremely popular video and computer games that since the
mid-1990s have promoted a paramilitary mindframe, from 'doom' onwards to splinter-cell?

Nope. The Patriot Movement was growing long before Computer Games. (since the mid 70s perhaps sooner)
Tyranny is the cause.
Resistance is the response.