This is How Many Active Hate Groups are in Illinois
When you were a kid, did you ever get in trouble for saying a bad word?
I remember the first time my mom swatted me on the behind after I said just three little words to her, "I HATE you." Most people don't think of the word "hate" as a bad word, but in my family it sure was.
My mom would always tell me that you should never tell someone you hate them, or even use the word; it's the strongest word in the English language that can have devastating consequences. She'd say, "people who hate others, really only hate themselves."
It's a lesson I'll never forget. I've learned over the years that it's easier to love than it is to hate; but unfortunately not everyone feels the same way you and I do about hatred.
So, just how much hate is there in our country? It's obvious, after the recent events in Charlottesville, Viriginia, that it's still pretty prevalent; even right here in Illinois.
You might not have seen these groups in the news recently, but according to CBS Chicago and the Southern Poverty Law Center, 32 out of 917 active hate groups in the United States are in Illinois.
The organization defines a hate group as those that,
"have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics."
A couple of them are located in Rockford, while the are rest, which include the KKK, anti-Muslim and anti-LGBT groups, are scattered throughout the state. A majority reside in Chicago.
If you'd like to see the entire list, click here.
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