Once, long ago, the Southern Poverty Law Center had an excellent reputation. That was when the organization was doing great work in combating the racism that is the Klu Klux Klan. Now, the SPLC wanders around with egg on their faces more often than not. Evidently, their idea of rectifying their PR problem means an abrupt firing of their co-founder, Morris Dees.

“In a Thursday statement, SPLC President Richard Cohen stressed the importance of “ensuring that the conduct of our staff reflects the mission of the organization and the values we hope to instill in the world.”

“When one of our own fails to meet those standards, no matter his or her role in the organization, we take it seriously and must take appropriate action,” Cohen wrote. The statement did not offer specifics on the circumstances behind Dees’s termination. When pressed for more details on the decision, a spokesman for SPLC said he couldn’t “comment on the details of individual personnel” and did not anticipate any further statements on the matter.”

Well, isn’t that curious? So why was Dees fired? No one seems to know, and 82 year old Dees isn’t saying much. 

““I think the Southern Poverty Law Center is a very fine group and I devoted nearly 50 years of my life to it and I’m proud of its work,” Dees told the AP. “About being fired, all I can say is it wasn’t my decision and I wish the center the best.””

Curiouser and curiouser.

Even more so since SPLC has been having major troubles for several years. Legal Insurrection has been tracking them since 2009.

I was critical of the Southern Poverty Law Center before it was cool to be critical of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

You can scroll through my posts about the SPLC dating back to 2009, including:

Southern Poverty Law Center Completes Its Descent Into Madness (regarding SPLC attack on Sarah Palin)
Confirmed – SPLC Exaggerated About Klan In Rhode Island
Neo-Nazis in Rhode Island? SPLC exaggerates again
SPLC’s hatewatch gives cover to hate
SPLC Demonizes Supporters of Traditional Marriage
Southern Poverty Law Center Still Peddling Lie That Giffords Shooter Was Right-Winger

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As Jacobson noted, the SPLC went from fighting outright racism to targeting conservative groups. Last summer SPLC was ordered to pay $3.375 million to Quilliam and its founder Maajid Nawaz. Why? SPLC wrongly identified them as anti-muslim extremists. OOPS.

Given the amount of money SPLC has, $3.375 million is just a drop in the bucket right? I mean, Dees built a GREAT house off his earnings!

Morris Dees, even at 82, was SPLC's highest-paid employee. Here are some pics of the mansion he bought with his hated-filled junk-mail earnings: pic.twitter.com/MwKp3M6ghE

— Mark Krikorian (@MarkSKrikorian) March 14, 2019

And, as of 2018, the organization had about $518 million in assets. So the problem isn’t necessarily that lawsuit. Maybe it’s Dees himself and his heavy handed control of the organization?

Or perhaps its the fact that the SPLC has lost it’s way? Conservative groups and people have been on their hit list for quite some time. Such as the Family Research Council and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Why was she talking with Victor Davis Hanson? Because the SPLC specifically pointed out that he and the book he wrote, “Mexifornia,” is racist. Which is so very far from the truth it’s laughable.

Yup, the SPLC has definitely strayed from its roots. Is that one of the reasons that Dees was summarily booted from the organization? Or was it something else?

Just spoke with Morris Dees. He tells me that there were no incidents of inappropriate behavior by him and that the decision to remove him was driven by a difference of opinion on the direction of the SPLC. /1

— Josh Moon (@Josh_Moon) March 14, 2019

Oh. Ok, so Dees only went to the office two days a week. That’s the reason for his firing? Or is it?

I have been sent a number of internal SPLC emails that address the ongoing situation and specifically discuss Dees. Looks like a combination of complaints regarding sexual harassment and racial biases in promotion and hierarchy led to this.

— Josh Moon (@Josh_Moon) March 14, 2019

The SPLC has morphed into a hate group of its own, and perhaps Dees finally realized the monster he unleashed and was attempting to rein it in after pulling these boneheaded moves.

• Ben Carson was put on their ‘watch list’
• Family Research Council labeled as hate group
• Charles Murray
• Alliance for Defending Freedom, who represent Masterpiece Cakeshop among others.

Currently there is $121 million or more parked offshore. If this was all about Dees and his supposed harassment of employees, why did the SPLC order an outside audit?

Needless to say, there are more questions than answers regarding SPLC’s firing of Morris Dees. Does this mean that the SPLC will go back to its roots? Highly doubtful.

Feature Photo Credit: SPLC/via Youtube courtesy of National Review, cropped and modified