A newly released report by the Southern Poverty Law Center shows that activities by hate groups in New Jersey and nationally grew exponentially in 2018. While only one more hate group was identified in New Jersey in 2018, white supremacist groups have distributed their propaganda, often on college and university campuses a reported 46 times, compared to 20 such reported incidents in 2017. The added hate group in New Jersey increases the number of identified hate groups operating in New Jersey to 18.

Intelligence analysts at New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness believe the rise in activity is directly correlated with President Trump’s tenure as president, in which he often vilifies illegal immigrants as a near-existential threat to the United States. Experts believe that this constant denigration of a subset of the population has reassured and inspired efforts by white supremacists, who now feel more comfortable espousing their views publicly. White supremacist groups have increased by 30% since President Trump took office. “The number reflects and enlivened American hate movement that is growing,” said Heidi Beirich, director for the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project.

Black hate groups have also grown in opposition to Trump’s presidency, as many minorities see the president as a threat to them. The increase in both white and black hate groups have resulted in the highest number of hate groups actively operating the United States – a total of 1,020, an astonishing number.

The increase in white supremacist recruitment efforts on college campuses is due to a rise in ‘intellectual white supremacists’, racists who try to foment hate in educated people, as opposed to the stereotypical racist hillbilly. An example of such ‘intellectual’ racism was shown recently when a Virginia Coast Guard Lieutenant was arrested after it was discovered he was a neo-Nazi who was hoarding weapons with plans to use them in a massive terror attack targeting politicians and cable news hosts.

White supremacist groups are not however the only sort of hate group currently active in New Jersey. Besides for infamous white supremacy groups such as Identity Evropa, Forza Nuova, the Ku Klux Klan, and neo-Nazi publications like The Daily Stormer continuing activities in the state, multiple black nationalist groups such as the Nation of Islam also continue to operate in the state’s borders.

Officials noted that an increase in people reporting racist incidents may be responsible for the statistical rise in hate activity. However, experts are remaining vigilant in their observance and investigation of hate group activities in the state.

If you see suspicious activity, call 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ or email [email protected]