On 21 May an important article by Tyler O’Neil appeared on PJ Media in which evidence was presented that indicated ties between the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the violent, political extremist organization Antifa.

Not enough attention has been focused on O’Neill’s article and the revelations it disclosed:

https://pjmedia.com/trending/report-shows-online-ties-linking-huffpost-the-guardian-and-splc-to-antifa/

O’Neill cites research from Dr. Eoin Lenihan. Lenihan’s data indicates that “chief investigative reporter for the SPLC Matthew Hayden [has] connections within Antifa,” which Lenihan describes as “problematic.”

Hayden’s ties to Antifa are especially troubling given the SPLC’s prior acknowledgement of Antifa’s violence and outright refusal to include the organization in their list of “hate” groups:

https://capitalresearch.org/article/splc-wont-label-antifa-as-hate-group/

The SPLC’s refusal to designate Antifa a hate group was based on the contortionist logic that Antifa’s hate was not “discriminatory.” That nonsense was expressed by the now former president of the SPLC, Richard Cohen:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/southern-poverty-law-center-condemns-antifa-but-wont-call-hate-group

Ironically, Cohen resigned under pressure in March due to revelations that the SPLC was overrun with sexual harassment and discriminatory practices on his watch:

https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/03/25/splc-president-richard-cohen-resigns-from-embattled-left-wing-nonprofit/

The reality is that the SPLC targets conservative organizations with trumped-up “hate” designations in an effort to stifle speech in much the same way that Antifa uses violence and intimidation to silence its opponents. So evidence of interaction between the two organizations should not come as a surprise.

But the interaction does reveal something about the veracity of the SPLC’s claim that they “followed” Antifa. Exactly what did they mean when Cohen said that the SPLC “followed” Antifa?

This would not be the first time that the SPLC’s work ended up tied to leftist violence.

In 2012 Floyd Lee Corkins attacked the headquarters of the Family Research Council (FRC) and wounded a security guard. Corkins said that he carried out the attack because the FRC had been listed as a hate group by the SPLC.

As for Antifa, there can be no doubt that Antifa is a violent organization that targets people and organizations for their views. There is a great deal of evidence to demonstrate this:

Antifa professor attacks Trump supporter

Antifa commits assaults at prayer rally in Portland

FBI investigating Antifa plot to buy guns from Mexican drug cartel for armed rebellion

FBI investigating meetings between Antifa and ISIS

Even CNN has acknowledged that Antifa uses violence:

https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/18/us/unmasking-antifa-anti-fascists-hard-left/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUu46J_OHQ4

In December Antifa members attacked two U.S. Marines in Philadelphia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpxxTzkb9k4

It can only be described as disturbing that the SPLC has demonstrated ties to an organization that has a pattern of committing acts of violence.