Southern Poverty Law Center Dismisses Founder

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/03/Morris_Dees_Boston_2015.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1426;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:4:"file";s:35:"2019/03/Morris_Dees_Boston_2015.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-336x271.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:271;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-771x623.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:623;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-768x620.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:620;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-385x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:385;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-328x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:328;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Morris_Dees_Boston_2015-125x125.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:10:"Tim Pierce";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:10:"1427750604";s:9:"copyright";s:13:"© Tim Pierce";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:1:{i:0;s:11:"Morris Dees";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:37:"The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

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

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

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

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Wiki Commons
        )

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

)
1662632817 
1552581210

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a Montgomery-based civil rights watch dog group, dismissed its founder Morris Dees with little detail on what led to the ouster.

In a statement Thursday from its President Richard Cohen, the SPLC said:

“Effective yesterday, Morris Dees’ employment at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) was terminated. As a civil rights organization, the SPLC is committed to ensuring that the conduct of our staff reflects the mission of the organization and the values we hope to instill in the world. When one of our own fails to meet those standards, no matter his or her role in the organization, we take it seriously and must take appropriate action.”

Dees founded the SPLC in 1971 with lawyer Joseph Levin Jr. and civil rights activist Julian Bond.Over the years Dees led legal battles against hate crimes, intolerance and discrimination.

SPLC says it is taking steps to conduct a comprehensive assessment of its internal climate and workplace practices “to ensure that our talented staff is working in the environment that they deserve – one in which all voices are heard and all staff members are respected.”

“The SPLC is deeply committed to having a workplace that reflects the values it espouses – truth, justice, equity and inclusion, and we believe the steps we have taken today reaffirm that commitment.”

 

Australian woman is sentenced to life for poisoning relatives with mushrooms

An Australian judge sentenced triple-murderer Erin Patterson to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years for poisoning four of her estranged husband's relatives with death cap mushrooms.

Carlos Alcaraz wins his 2nd U.S. Open at match delayed by Trump’s attendance

The president's arrival delayed the match and left many ticketholders waiting in line. He watched from Rolex's luxury box.

More than 90,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees recalled over potential loss of drive power

Vehicles impacted by the recall include 2022 to 2026 plug-in hybrid electric models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Trump walks back Chicago ‘war’ threat, but vows to ‘clean up’ cities

Trump posted online that Chicago was "about to find out why it's called the Department of WAR," but later said his administration wouldn't go to war with American cities but rather "clean them up."

Postal traffic to US drops more than 80% after trade exemption rule ends, UN agency says

The de minimis rule that allowed small packages worth less than $800 to be exempt from tariffs ended on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.

Colombia’s lone Amazon port faces drying river and rising tensions with Peru

Colombia's only Amazon port town could soon be cut off from the river that keeps it alive. As drought and a shifting river spark a tense border dispute with Peru, locals are scrambling to adapt—and politicians are raising flags, literally.

More Civil Rights Coverage