In a recent report titled "Year in Hate and Extremism," the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has controversially labeled Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the largest conservative grassroots youth organization, as a "hate group.
".
The SPLC's move has sparked a wave of criticism, with many questioning the validity of the comparison.
According to the Daily Signal, the SPLC has equated TPUSA with the Ku Klux Klan, placing the youth organization on its "hate map," a tool that purportedly exposes groups upholding white supremacy in the United States.
The latest iteration of this map, released last Thursday, includes TPUSA for the first time, categorizing it as an "anti-government extremist group." The map also features PragerU, a nonprofit organization that disseminates conservative ideas through digital media, placing it in the same category as TPUSA.
The founder of TPUSA, Charlie Kirk, expressed his reaction to this categorization during an interview with Laura Ingraham. "Theyve labeled Turning Point as a hate group," Ingraham stated, to which Kirk responded, "Yes." Ingraham then asked, "What took you so long, Charlie?" Kirk replied, "Understand that theyre literally putting high school chapters of ours on a hate group next to the KKK and next to neo-nazi groups."
Kirk further elaborated on the implications of this labeling, stating, "This is them trying to make us basically surrender at Turning Point USA. Were going to do the opposite, and our students are only going to lean in even more." He criticized the SPLC's tactics, arguing that they resort to smearing opponents with labels such as "racist" or "hater" instead of engaging in substantive dialogue or debate.
As reported by Gateway Pundit, Kirk also posted a more detailed response, in which he lambasted the SPLC for adding TPUSA to their "hate group" list alongside the KKK and neo-Nazis. He described the move as a "cheap smear" from an organization that he believes has lost its credibility.
Kirk accused the SPLC of attempting to scare financial institutions into debanking TPUSA, pressuring schools to cancel the organization, and demonizing it to the point where it could become a target for violence.
Kirk's response also highlighted the SPLC's financial situation, questioning the organization's use of its substantial annual income. "They somehow still rake in over $100 million a year peddling their 'hate map' nonsense, sitting pretty in their Montgomery 'Poverty Palace' while crying about 'hate' to line their pockets," Kirk stated.
Despite the SPLC's labeling, Kirk remains defiant, viewing inclusion on the list as a "badge of honor." He believes that the SPLC's actions reflect their fear of TPUSA's effectiveness. "Keep crying, SPLCAmericas done with your scam," Kirk concluded.
This incident underscores the ongoing tension between conservative organizations and entities like the SPLC, which conservatives often accuse of bias and misrepresentation. As the debate continues, the question remains: will this labeling impact TPUSA's operations, or will it, as Kirk suggests, only strengthen their resolve?
Login