Radical activist groups circle wagons around Southern Poverty Law Center amid federal charges

By Fox News · Fox News

Left-wing nonprofits are rallying behind the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as the self-described "beacon of hope" for "fighting white supremacy" faces federal fraud charges. In a blog post written by National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Senior Policy Advisor Mel Wilson, Wilson said, "it is important that we stand with and support The Southern Poverty Law Center until the legal travails are complete — with full confidence that SPLC will be vindicated." Below her commentary, Wilson listed a number of "coalition members" that are standing with SPLC and are a part of "The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights ." The list included more than one hundred non-profit organizations. SPLC INDICTMENT BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR BESSENT'S TREASURY TO PROBE PARTISAN NONPROFITS Separately, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a press release defending SPLC, saying that it stands with the nonprofit, and accusing the Department of Justice of "targeting" the organization. "This reported federal targeting of SPLC appears to be a transparently political attack on the rule of law meant to undermine the vital role civil rights groups play in countering hate groups. This is unacceptable and must not stand," CAIR’s statement read. "We encourage all Americans and elected officials to stand in solidarity with the SPLC and all other organizations dedicated to the protection of civil rights," the statement continued. BLACK CHURCH GROUP RETRACTS 'INAPPROPRIATE' CALL FOR AL SHARPTON'S SUSPENSION OVER DONATIONS FROM HARRIS CAMP CAIR was named a co-conspirator during The Holy Land Foundation (HLF) trial from 2007-2008, where five members of the HLF were convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization, providing material support, money laundering and tax fraud after allegations that HLF funneled $12.4 million to Hamas in the early 2000s. While CAIR never faced charges and was only named by prosecutors during the trial, the FBI cut…