Extremist groups in California are increasing in number and boosting their efforts to effectively organize. That’s according to a new report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which one state senator called “absolutely horrifying.”
The report found a 41% increase in antisemitic attacks in the Golden State between 2021 and last year. There were six murders carried out by members of extremist groups — the highest among any state — and 296 instances of white supremacist propaganda, representing an increase of 91%.
“There’s a common thread that connects every part of California, north and south, east and west, and that’s hate in all its forms,” stated Oren Segal, vice president of the Anti-Defamation League Center of Extremism at a news conference. “Addressing the proliferation of extremism, antisemitism and hate is not only a profound challenge, it is one of the challenges of our time.”
Groups frequently mentioned in the report include the Proud Boys, the Rise Above Movement, Patriot Front and the Goyim Defense League. The ADL found increased collaboration between the groups in 2022.
The report also makes note of increased attacks on local government officials across the U.S. The organization logged at least 400 instances of threats or harassment against local lawmakers from 2020 and 2022. Sixty-four of those occurred in California.
Read the report here.