The overall number of hate groups in the U.S. continued to decline in 2014, a new study finds — though particular types of hate groups and crimes, including those against LGBT people, are on the rise.
Nationwide, the number of hate groups fell from 939 active groups in 2013 to 784 groups in 2014, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) annual “The Year in Hate and Extremism” report, published Tuesday. Here’s a look at how the total number of hate groups, such as anti-Muslim or neo-Nazi groups, have changed in the last quarter-century:
SPLC’s report warns the decline in active hate groups in the past year may be misleading. More and more people—particularly extremists—have taken to the Internet as an informal hate network, which aren’t tallied, while others are choosing to commit hate crimes as “lone wolf” terrorists.
The report adds that several types of hate groups are actually increasing in number, including anti-LGBT groups, due to more states legalizing same-sex marriage:
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