Dark Mode

You've probably seen people cite this ADL report about right-wing extremism, or maybe you've even seen it misreported as white supremacy. Let's have a look. All information I've used comes directly from the report.

Something to note before we begin is that a number of these are by self-identified sovereign citizens, which aren't even necessarily right-wing. The 2016 shooting in Baton Rouge targeting police officers was committed by a black sovereign citizen who was a fan of The Young Turks, not exactly a right-wing friendly group.

Decidedly right-wing or racist attacks are marked in red.

Attacks that are probably right-wing or racially motivated are marked in orange.

Non-political or non-right-wing attacks are marked in turquoise.



The Attacks

Tallahassee, Florida, November 2, 2018 - 2 deaths, 4 injuries

Reported as incel-related. The perpetrator did appear to be an incel and sympathise with Elliott Rodger. No direct proof that's the reason for the shooting but that does appear to be a reasonable conclusion.

Probably Politically Motivated, Not Necessarily Right-Wing

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 27, 2018 - 11 deaths, 6 injuries

The infamous synagogue shooting. Nothing to say here, this was a racist attack.

Racist

Renton, Washington, September 19, 2018 - 1 death

White supremacist was arrested with his wife for a plot to murder and steal the home of Steven Morphis (who was white). The perpetrator was apparently a white supremacist, but this wasn't a hate crime

Not Politically Motivated

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 19, 2018 - 1 death

White man killed black man (man bites dog). Posted saying he was playing a game seeing how many times he could say "nigger" before being kicked out of bars, which is enough for the ADL to classify him as a white supremacist. This resulted in a group calling for hate crime charges, which is enough for the ADL to include it, although there is no proof that he actually was charged with a hate crime, nor that he was racially motivated.

Maybe Racist

Sumter, South Carolina, August 11, 2018 - 1 death

Black sovereign citizen (which, as noted earlier, aren't even necessarily right wing) killed someone after a dispute about a vehicle sale.

Not Politically Motivated

Robstown, Texas, July 27, 2018 - 4 deaths

White supremacist prison group member shot relatives at a nursing center.

Not Politically Motivated

Shawnee, Kansas, July 6, 2018 - 1 death

White supremacist (according to his family) killed a black woman. Told police he killed her because she threatened to tell others he was HIV positive.

Possibly at Least Partially Racist

Camden, Michigan, June 30, 2018 - 1 death

So-called "anti-government extremist" (not necessarily right wing) killed someone his ex-wife lived with after getting into an argument with her.

Not Politically Motivated

Dothan, Alabama, June 4, 2018 - 1 death

Member of white supremacist prison gang and his wife killed their 6 month old son.

Not Politically Motivated

Athens, Georgia, May 11, 2018 - 1 death, 1 injury

Black sovereign citizen stabbed his mother and older brother following a family argument, killing the brother.

Not Politically Motivated

Abingdon, Virginia, May 4, 2018 - 1 death

Man with white supremacist tattoos shot aquaintance following a dispute.

Not Politically Motivated

Murfreesboro, Tennessee, March 17, 2018 - 1 death

Man set fire to black roommate and confessed in letter to white supremacist group he was a member of.

Racist

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, March 12, 2018 - 1 death, 2 injuries

Teenager went on a stabbing spree during a sleepover, killing 1 and injuring 2. Had converted to Islam and told police that was the reason.

Politically Motivated

Locust Grove, Georgia, February 19, 2018 - 1 death

Black sovereign citizen killed a police officer.

Probably Not Right Wing

Parkland, Florida, February 14, 2018 - 17 deaths, 17 injuries

The infamous Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. There is much debate over whether the perpetrator is racist, but the ADL themselves admit that there is "little evidence ... to suggest that the MSDHS shooting spree itself was conducted as a white supremacist attack".

Not Politically Motivated

Orange County, California, January 2, 2018 - 1 death

Neo-Nazi group member stabbed a gay Jew to death and was charged with a hate crime.

Racist & Anti-Gay

In Conclusion

Of the 17 attacks listed by the ADL, at most 5 were racially motivated. Including those 5, at most 7 were right-wing. This includes 1 Islamic attack. The ADL attempts to mislead readers by including non-political attacks, justifying it using the word "linked". They aren't to be trusted.

Oh, and remember, despite making up approximately 13% of the population, black Americans committed 26.3% of hate crimes with a known perpetrator in 2017, while whites (including Hispanics) make up approximately 77% of the population yet only accounted for 62.5% of known hate crime perpetrators. Don't even get me started on regular crime...