The Southern Poverty Law Center recently issued an “Intelligence Report” on “Active ‘Patriot’ Groups in the United States”. Stating,
“The Intelligence Project identified 512 “Patriot” groups that were active in 2009. Of these groups, 127 were militias, “common-law” courts, publishers, ministries and citizens’ groups. Generally, Patriot groups define themselves as opposed to the “New World Order,” engage in groundless conspiracy theorizing, or advocate or adhere to extreme antigovernment doctrines. Listing here does not imply that the groups themselves advocate or engage in violence or other criminal activities, or are racist. The list was compiled from field reports, Patriot publications, the Internet, law enforcement sources and news reports.”
In response to this “report” Renea McMasters and I went to their office in Montgomery, Alabama in an attempt to get answers on how and why this report was written. Renea was able to get a meeting with Heidi Beirich and took a camera inside to capture the meeting.