White supremacist propaganda and antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-immigrant sentiment are noted as concerns
Dallas, TX, September 21, 2023 … A new report from ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) reveals an alarming trend of growing hate and extremism in Texas. Titled “Hate in the Lone Star State”, the report written by the ADL Center on Extremism identifies the unique forces driving alarming levels of extremist activity in the state.
The report looks back at nearly three years of extremism in Texas beginning in January 2021 and ending in May of this year. One driver of this phenomenon is the presence of the white supremacist group Patriot Front, which uses Texas as its base of operations and has distributed propaganda at an alarming frequency. This contributed to Texas experiencing the highest number of white supremacist propaganda distributions in the United States in 2022. Other notable extremist incidents examined in the report include the hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, and the mass shooting in Allen which was perpetrated by an individual who subscribed to extremist ideology.
“As the report details, extremism is an increasingly complex and far-reaching problem in Texas,” said Stacy Cushing, Regional Director of ADL Texoma in Dallas. “If we hope to find a solution to this growing threat in our state, Texans and policymakers must work together to create an equally robust plan to thwart the efforts of extremists.”
Texas also experienced two extremist murders, 28 extremist events, 32 recent anti-LGBTQ+ incidents, and six extremist terror plots, and Texas saw the fifth-highest number of total antisemitic incidents in the United States in 2022.
“Elected officials in Texas have an opportunity to confront this issue to significantly curtail the negative impact that extremism has on the people they represent,” said Oren Segal, Vice President of the ADL Center on Extremism. “It is imperative they prioritize the views and experiences of our most vulnerable communities so that targets of extremism have the resources they need to collaborate with law enforcement to solve this issue.”
The report concludes with five categories of policy recommendations that are nonpartisan, have a track record of success in the fight against extremism, and are focused on groups facing the most negative effects of hate and extremism.
Convene Cross-Sector Stakeholders to Address Hate-Fueled Violence
In 2021, ADL supported Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s signing of HB 3257, which created the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission. We urge the governor to create a United We Stand Summit for Texas to bring together a cross-section of leaders representing communities targeted by hate-fueled violence.
Prevent and Counter Domestic Terrorism
ADL’s PROTECT Plan – our comprehensive plan to address domestic violent extremism while preserving civil liberties, is a template that should be used as a starting point in Texas. Some Texas-specific adaptations of these concepts could include the creation of a Violent Extremism Commission to address extremism in Texas, the creation of a Terrorism Prevention Strategy and Grant Program, continued funding to supplement the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, the introduction of legislation to create accountable offices to address the challenge.
Hold Social Media Platforms Accountable and Enhance Access to Justice for Targets of Hate
According to recent reports from the ADL Center for Tech & Society, social media content is contributing to the growth of extremism and harassment and platforms must do more to stop the proliferation of extremist content. ADL recommends Texas pass legislation aimed at protecting victims of severe forms of harassment such as doxing and encourages accountability and transparency from social media platforms.
Strengthen Response to Hate Crimes
ADL would like Governor Abbott and state legislators to explore new avenues for addressing criminal activity related to hate and extremism. We recommend the creation of a commission on hate, requirements for law enforcement agencies to report hate crime data to the FBI and require hate crime training for law enforcement. We also recommend strengthening hate crime laws to protect targets of hate-based criminal activity and prioritize the voices of those most targeted in traditionally marginalized communities.
Protect Civil Rights
Protecting the civil rights of all people in Texas, especially members of marginalized communities, is crucial for countering discrimination and bias. ADL has long supported measures to extend nondiscrimination protections to people who identify as LGBTQ+, counter antisemitism, remove discriminatory barriers to voting, address racial discrimination and injustice, and help protect the safety, dignity and well-being of immigrants and refugees.
There are actions all Texans can take to help dismantle hate and extremism. The seemingly small act of speaking up when confronted with intolerance can make a big difference. ADL.org has several resources to foster respectful dialogue to combat hate without being combative. There are opportunities to get involved with community outreach, education, and legislative efforts. For more go to ADL.org/Take-Action.