CNN publishes map of 'hate groups' that lumps Christian organizations with KKK

Following the Charlottesville riots last week, CNN published an article that features locations of "hate groups," which not only includes the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis, but also some mainstream Christian organizations.

The map, produced by The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), lists mainstream organizations like the Family Research Council (FRC), Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Liberty Counsel and the Pacific Justice Institute as "hate groups."

Dan Gainor, vice president of Business and Culture at the Media Research Center, denounced CNN's decision to publish the "hate" map.

"This is CNN going utterly insane. They are serving as a platform for a radical left-wing hate group that exists solely to bash conservatives," Gainor told Life Site News. "The CNN report has zero legitimacy. But it does serve to falsely label millions of conservatives as haters and may put them at risk as well," he added.

SPLC's "hate" list has been blamed for inspiring violence against a conservative group in Washington D.C. five years ago.

In 2012, Floyd Lee Corkins walked into the Family Research Council's Washington office, where he shot a security guard and planned to massacre the group's staff. He later told the FBI that he targeted the organization because it was included on SPLC's list of "hate groups."

The CNN article also presented a list of "anti-LGBT groups" that included mainstream pro-life and pro-family groups who advocate against abortion and in support of traditional marriage.

Other organizations included on the list were the Center for Family and Human Rights (CFAM), Traditional Values Coalition, Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, Catholic religious order Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Catholic Family News, and the American Family Association.

Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal ministry, also issued a response criticizing CNN for publishing the "hate" list. "CNN has published a fake news article... that recklessly lists pro-family organizations, including Liberty Counsel, as active 'hate groups' throughout the nation," the group said in a press release.

"To lump peaceful Christian organizations, which condemn violence and racism, in with the KKK, Neo-Nazis, and white supremacists is offensive," said chairman and founder of Liberty Counsel, Mat Staver. "This is the epitome of fake news and is why people no longer trust the media," he added.

Liberty Counsel also drew a link between the SPLC and the shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise in June. The legal organization claimed that the SPLC had tried to infer that Scalise is a so-called "hater" and a supporter of a "hate group."

The SPLC issued a statement denouncing the shooter after it was revealed that the suspect had "liked" the left-wing organization on Facebook.