The Southern Poverty League Center released their latest findings of extremism across America. Kentucky has 9 hate and antigovernment groups listed. Here is a brief introduction to what these hate groups advocate for and the symbols they associate with.
1. Asatru Folk Assembly
According to the SPLC, neo-Völkisch ideology centers on misplaced fears about the replacement of white people, many hate groups focused on homeschooling in 2022.
The ADL states, Asatru Folk Assembly adopted a racial version of Asatru called "Odinism." AFA emphasizes white identity, claiming white ethnic Europeans are superior to other races, and proclaims the need to protect the pure white race from extinction.
It appeals to white supremacists because it is a “warrior religion” in contrast to pacifist Christianity, and because they consider it “tribal”.
2. Church of Aryanity
The Church of Aryanity / Order of the Western Knights Templar is a Neo Nazi group recruiting for the racial holy war. The headquarters and a compound are in Hopkins County Ky.
White power accelerationism is glorified, and small acts of violence are admirable. Terrorist like Timothy McVeigh and Ted Kaczynski are seen as noble and aspirational.
3. Fellowship of God's Covenant People
Fellowship of God's Covenant People is a church in Boone County Kentucky. It opened in 1987 to seek the "Christian Israel truth" that white people, not Jewish people, are the true Israelites favored by God in the Bible
Christian Identity is an antisemitic, racist theology that rose to a position of commanding influence on the racist right in the 1980s.
4. Kentucky Parents Involved in Education
The audacity that a "parental rights" organization can be considered a hate group is pushing all the right norms. Just last week, the Klan was targeting parents in Kentucky to join them to fight critical race theory and LGBTQ.
Moms for Liberty is an anti-government organization fighting against "woke indoctrination". They led local opposition to public health regulations for COVID-19. Now they mainly oppose LGBTQ+ and racially inclusive school curriculum, and books bans
Courier Journal reports there are Moms For Liberty chapters in Jefferson, Boone and Campbell counties. The Facebook group for Kentucky Parents Involved in Education (KPIE) states they seek to abolish the US Department of Education.
5. National Assembly
The National Assembly is part of the Sovereign Citizens Movement who believe they are not under the jurisdiction of the federal government. They consider themselves to be exempt from Federal laws after believing a variety of conspiracy theories and falsehoods.
Qanon has helped grow this movement in recent years. Rumors of "The Order" or Jews plotting to take over the government instills fear.
SPLC states "The roots of the movement are racist and antisemitic. It was founded by William Potter Gale in 1971, former member of the John Birch Society." They identified themselves as “Posse Comitatus,” which is Latin for “power of the county” and centers on the idea that county sheriffs are the highest governmental authority.
6. Patriot Front
Patriot Front formed a few months after the 2017 Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville. The Anti-defamation League defines Patriot Front as "a white supremacist group whose members maintain that their ancestors conquered America and bequeathed it to them alone."
Patriot Front has been flyering across Kentucky since 2018.
Patriot Front is recruiting young white males, and teenagers, through the internet. Minors are encouraged to lie to their parents so the group can join out of state trips for fascist events. These neo-fascists usually hide their identities during events at public spaces. They wear khaki cargo pants, brown combat boots, navy blue jackets, white gaiters, sunglasses and beige baseball hats.
7. Proud Boys
Proud Boys formed in 2016 as a men's rights club and fraternity.
They will claim they are not racist while telling racists jokes.
The FBI has recently confirmed the Proud Boys was flyering in Kentucky.
Proud Boy members were involved in the Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally and the January 6 Insurrection.
8. Revolutionary Black Panther Party
The Revolutionary Black Panther Party advocates for black nationalism.
The group claims to continue the 1960's movement while defending Black "people against genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, the Black African Holocaust and race war waged against people of African descent."
9. Tea Party of Kentucky
The Tea Party of Kentucky is located in Jefferson County Kentucky. They are considered antigovernment and part of the antidemocratic hard-right movement.
They believe the federal government is tyrannical, and they traffic in conspiracy theories about an illegitimate government of leftist elites seeking a “New World Order.”
The movement has been referred to as the "Patriot" movement that rose to power in 2009.
Be sure to subscribe to stay informed about the Kentucky's 2022 Hate Groups and more.