CNN has published a fake news article, “Here are all the active hate groups where you live,” that recklessly lists pro-family organizations, including Liberty Counsel, as active “hate groups” throughout the nation. Liberty Counsel has sent a demand letter to CNN regarding this article that cites the discredited Southern Poverty Center Law (SPLC), a reckless organization that falsely labels nonviolent people and organizations as “haters” or “hate groups.”

“I am shocked that CNN would publish such a false report on the heels of the Charlottesville tragedy,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “To lump peaceful Christian organizations, which condemn violence and racism, in with the KKK, Neo-Nazis, and white supremacists is offensive. This is the epitome of fake news and is why people no longer trust the media,” said Staver.

This CNN article is not only defamatory but causes a serious security threat to Liberty Counsel and other pro-family organizations, especially after the recent Charlottesville tragedy. The SPLC “hate” designations already have been linked to two attempted mass murders. In fact, Tuesday was the five-year anniversary of an attempt at mass murder by Floyd Lee Corkins II, who entered the lobby of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., “with the intent to kill as many employees as he was able.” Corkins confessed to the FBI that he had searched the SPLC’s “Hate Map” and selected the Family Research Council as his victim.

James Hodgkinson recently gunned down Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and others at a Republic baseball practice. In 2015, the SPLC wrote an article pushing the idea that Rep. Scalise promoted white supremacy and supported a “hate group” founded by former KKK member David Duke. The SPLC article clearly tries to infer that Rep. Scalise is a so-called “hater” and supporter of a “hate group.” Hodgkinson “liked” the SPLC’s Facebook page.

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