Southern Poverty Law Center Under Fire After Charlie Kirk's Assassination

September 22, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), long known for its "Hate Map" tracking extremist groups, is facing renewed scrutiny following the politically motivated murder of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk. Critics say the SPLC's controversial labeling practices have contributed to a climate of hostility and violence against conservative organizations and individuals.

Kirk was assassinated on September 10, 2025, just one day after the SPLC's "Intelligence Project Dispatch" accused Turning Point USA of promoting violent rhetoric and labeled the group "anti-government extremists." The SPLC placed TPUSA on par with groups like the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis - a move that many now say was reckless and defamatory.

Congressional Investigation Launched

In response to Kirk's death, the Congressional Freedom Caucus announced a formal investigation into the SPLC and other nonprofit organizations accused of inciting political violence. In a letter to the Department of Justice, the caucus wrote:

"In the wake of numerous attacks on our way of life, the destruction of the rule of law, and the murder of innocent Americans, prominent and unknown alike, we must take every step to follow the money and uncover the force behind the NGOs, donors, media, public officials, and all entities driving this coordinated attack... [There's a] sustained breakdown of law and order, fueled not by chance, but by anti-American ideology."

The letter specifically cited the SPLC's targeting of TPUSA earlier this year, raising concerns about the consequences of labeling mainstream conservative groups as hate organizations.

Media and Legal Pushback

Tyler O'Neil, author of Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center, appeared on Newsmax's "Todd Starnes Show" the day of Kirk's murder. O'Neil noted:

"This is not the first time that somebody who was put on that hate map was targeted for violence."

While the SPLC issued a statement condemning Kirk's assassination and affirming that "political violence is never acceptable," host Todd Starnes responded bluntly:

"That's BS... They've put targets on every single conservative out there... Their vitriol is being used by these terrorists to go out there and target our friends."

The SPLC has faced legal challenges before. The Dustin Inman Society, founded by the late D.A. King, is continuing its defamation lawsuit against the SPLC for labeling it a hate group. William Gheen, founder of ALIPAC, has also accused the SPLC of inciting threats against him and others:

"The SPLC is the violence shot caller for the radical left... They tell lies that get innocent people hurt or killed."

A Pattern of Violence?

Critics point to past incidents as evidence of a disturbing pattern. In 2012, Floyd Lee Corkins II opened fire at the Family Research Council's Washington, D.C. headquarters after finding the group on the SPLC's hate map. Corkins told the FBI he intended to kill everyone in the building and smear Chick-fil-A sandwiches on their faces - a symbolic act tied to the company's support for conservative causes.

In 2017, Congressman Steve Scalise was shot by James Hodgkinson during a GOP baseball practice. Hodgkinson had "liked" the SPLC on Facebook and reportedly targeted Republicans. Despite the attack, Scalise remained listed on the SPLC's hate map.

Even AI systems have flagged the trend. When asked about SPLC-linked violence, Grok AI responded:

"There's at least one clear case where someone opened fire at the Family Research Council after seeing them on the SPLC's map... activists keep saying the label puts targets in the crosshairs... and honestly, after last week? Hard not to wonder who's next."

The Road Ahead

As investigations unfold, groups like ALIPAC are calling for broader accountability - not just for the SPLC, but for other NGOs and media outlets accused of fueling political violence. The debate now centers on whether the SPLC's hate map is a tool for justice or a dangerous weapon of ideological warfare.

With blood spilled and tensions rising, many Americans are asking whether the SPLC's mission to fight hate has itself become a source of division and danger. The stakes are no longer theoretical - they are tragically real.