2015 Saw Rise in Hate Groups and Extremists in U.S.

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/12/KKK-Islam.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:300;s:4:"file";s:21:"2015/12/KKK-Islam.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:5:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"KKK-Islam-336x168.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:168;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"KKK-Islam-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"KKK-Islam-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"KKK-Islam-470x235.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:235;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"KKK-Islam-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => CAIR
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:95225;s:14:"optimized_size";i:61853;s:7:"percent";d:35.049999999999997;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:49:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/KKK-Islam.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:31082;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19025;s:7:"percent";d:38.789999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/KKK-Islam-336x168.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:11328;s:14:"optimized_size";i:8063;s:7:"percent";d:28.82;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/KKK-Islam-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3475;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3413;s:7:"percent";d:1.78;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/KKK-Islam-600x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:30358;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19212;s:7:"percent";d:36.719999999999999;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/KKK-Islam-470x235.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:18982;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12140;s:7:"percent";d:36.039999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1658831482 
1455730691

The Southern Poverty Law Center has released its annual count of hate groups and extremists in the U.S. Officials say 2015 saw a surge not seen in decades.

Last year, the number of hate and anti-government groups rose by 14 percent, according to the report. This follows a three year decline.

Mark Potok is with the Montgomery-based SPLC and is the author of the report. He says the biggest contributors to the increased activity are a growing rage and distrust in the government. Potok blames the rising anti-government sentiment on several factors, including changes in demographics as a result of immigration, advances in the rights of gays and lesbians, and far-reaching statements by presidential candidates.

“I think the year very nearly approaches the political upheavals of 1968,” Potok says.

Acts of extremist violence in 2015 may have been the worst in the U.S. since the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, Potok says.

 

 

Taiwan votes to decide whether to oust lawmakers from China-friendly party

Taiwanese were voting Saturday to determine whether to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, in elections that could potentially reshape the power balance in the self-ruled island's legislature.

Has the Billboard Hot 100 caught the Holy Ghost?

Brittany dives into the economy behind Christian contemporary music

Arizona woman to serve 8 years for identity theft scheme benefiting North Korea

Christina Chapman was sentenced to prison this week for her role in a scheme that the DOJ said used stolen American identities in order to help illegally employ North Koreans in U.S. companies.

Lawmakers seek to ban federal agents from wearing masks

ICE says its employees have good reasons to hide their faces from protesters who want to dox them online, but Democrats say masked federal agents evokes "secret police," and the practice should be banned.

Independent grocery stores have had a tough five years. SNAP cuts will make it harder

The bulk of sales for many independent grocers come from SNAP. Cuts to the program could leave some making hard decisions about their future.

Education Department says it’s releasing more than $5 billion in frozen grants

The grants fund a wide range of education programs, including migrant education, services for English language learners and adult education.

More Front Page Coverage