Southern Poverty Law Center

A group of lawyers helps people.

They work to make things fair. They fight for people who are treated badly. This work helps many people.

They help fight for rights. They also teach people to be kind. They have a special memorial to honor people.

Some people have been mean to them. They even tried to hurt their building. But the group keeps working.

It is good to be kind to all.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, or SPLC, is a group of lawyers.

They are based in Montgomery, Alabama. They work to protect civil rights. This means they fight for fairness for all people.

In 1971, Morris Dees and Joseph Levin Jr. started the group. They wanted to fight poverty and unfair treatment. Later, they used law suits to fight hate groups. This helped victims of violence get help. They also monitor groups that attack others.

The SPLC does many things. They teach people about being kind to others. They also work on cases about prison conditions. They have fought for the rights of immigrants too.

Sometimes, the group faces hard times. Some people say their lists of hate groups are too broad. In 2019, the group had many changes in its leaders. Workers also had concerns about how the group was run. In 2024, many people lost their jobs at the SPLC. The group has a large amount of money to help its work. It uses this money to pay for its legal cases.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, known as the SPLC, is a non-profit legal group.

It is based in Montgomery, Alabama. The group focuses on civil rights and public interest law. This means they use the law to protect people's rights. They are well known for fighting groups that practice white supremacy. They also classify different hate groups and extremist organizations. The SPLC works to promote programs that teach tolerance to others.

How the SPLC works involves many different legal steps. They file lawsuits to help victims of violence get money for damages. This strategy was used against the Ku Klux Klan starting in 1980. These legal wins helped take away the money of certain hate groups. The SPLC also monitors the activities of various organizations. They have a project called Hatewatch to keep track of these groups. They even share information about hate groups with the FBI.

The history of the SPLC began in August 1971. Morris Dees and Joseph J. Levin Jr. started it as a law firm. They wanted to fight poverty and racial discrimination. They asked Julian Bond to serve as the president. In 1981, they started the Klanwatch project to watch the KKK. Later, in 1989, they showed the Civil Rights Memorial. This memorial was designed by an artist named Maya Lin.

Many facts show how large the SPLC has become. In 2017, the group had nearly half a billion dollars in assets. By 2024, its endowment grew to 822 million dollars. The group has faced many challenges and changes over time. In 2019, the founder Morris Dees was fired from the group. In 2024, the SPLC laid off 80 people from its staff. Some people criticize the group for its political views. Others say their lists of hate groups are too broad.

You might see the SPLC mentioned in the news or school books. Many academic sources and media outlets use their lists of hate groups. They also work on big legal battles regarding prison conditions. The SPLC has fought for the rights of immigrants and people in detention. They have even worked on cases about the separation of church and state. Their work links to the wider fight for fairness in America. They try to use the legal system to make society more equal.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, or SPLC, is an American nonprofit legal advocacy organization.

It is a 501(c)(3) group based in Montgomery, Alabama. The organization focuses on civil rights and public interest litigation. This means they use the legal system to protect the rights of many people. The SPLC is well known for its legal cases against white supremacist groups. It also classifies various hate groups and extremist organizations. Furthermore, the center promotes tolerance education programs to help people understand diversity.

The SPLC uses specific legal mechanisms to achieve its goals. One major strategy involves filing civil suits for monetary damages. This method was used on behalf of victims of violence from the Ku Klux Klan starting in 1980. These lawsuits aim to hold groups accountable through the court system. In some cases, favorable verdicts helped bankrupt certain organizations by seizing their assets. The SPLC also monitors extremist activity through projects like Hatewatch. This project tracks many different types of hate organizations. The center also provides information about these groups to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.

The organization has worked on many different types of legal issues. They challenge institutional racial segregation and discrimination. They also fight against inhumane and unconstitutional conditions in prisons and detention centers. Other areas of focus include discrimination based on sexual orientation. The SPLC also works on cases involving the mistreatment of illegal immigrants. Additionally, they address the unconstitutional mixing of church and state. In 2011, the SPLC joined the ACLU and other groups to challenge Georgia House Bill 87. This legal battle resulted in a permanent injunction in 2013.

The history of the SPLC began in August 1971. It was founded by civil rights lawyers Morris Dees and Joseph J. Levin Jr. Originally, the firm focused on fighting poverty and the death penalty. They asked civil rights leader Julian Bond to serve as president. In 1981, the center launched the Klanwatch project to monitor the KKK. In 1989, the SPLC unveiled the Civil Rights Memorial. This memorial was designed by the artist Maya Lin. The organization has faced significant violence throughout its history. In 1983, the headquarters was destroyed in a firebombing. Many plots to harm the center or its leaders were also reported.

Financial data shows the massive scale of the SPLC's resources. In 2017, the organization's assets totaled nearly half a billion dollars. By 2024, its endowment grew to $822 million. In 2023, the group had a revenue of $170 million and expenses of $122 million. In 2024, revenue and expenses were both $129 million. The SPLC supports its work through fundraising rather than legal fees. Some groups, like CharityWatch, have criticized the SPLC for its large reserves. They argue that holding too much money in reserve is an issue for certain charities.

The organization has experienced significant internal changes and controversies. In March 2019, the founder Morris Dees was fired. Following his dismissal, employees raised concerns about the workplace culture. They reported allegations of mistreatment, sexual harassment, and racism. In 2020, Margaret Huang became the president and CEO. However, she resigned in July 2025. In June 2024, the SPLC laid off 80 people, which was 25% of its workforce. Staff members later expressed a lack of confidence in the leadership during this time.

The SPLC is connected to many broader social and political systems. Since the 2000s, its hate group listings have been used by media and academic sources. However, the center faces criticism from those who find its listings overbroad or politically motivated. In October 2025, the FBI cut ties with the SPLC. FBI director Kash Patel stated that the group's "hate map" had been used to defame Americans. Despite these conflicts, the SPLC remains a major player in civil rights litigation. Its work continues to influence how laws regarding equality and extremism are debated in the United States.