TEXAS — New research gathered on extremist groups and the mediums used to breed hate,
shows a heavy online presence.
- Extremists have greater presence online
- Hate group numbers at all-time high
- Hate related homicides growing
"If I were to compare the groups today compared to the groups I started studying 25 years ago, the groups today are incredibly tech savvy," said Kevin E. Grisham, a domestic and foreign terrorism expert.
Grisham says online tracking of potential bad guys with an appetite to kill is not the easiest of jobs.
"We start shutting them down on the mainstream websites, they'll just go create their own platforms," said Grisham.
Grisham says the internet has become a sort of breeding ground. Islamic radicals and white extremists today, have a greater presence online. In person, their numbers are also growing fast.
"We're definitely seeing a resurgence and a growth of hate groups in general,” Grisham said.
There are 1,020 organizations in the U.S. labeled as hate groups. That is an all-time high according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
"We're actually a record-high number in hate crimes," said Grisham.
The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism found hate crimes in America’s ten largest cities rose more than 12 percent in the last decade.
Researchers say, the only way to pull radicals back from the brink of destruction could be a tested method governments have used for decades.
"It sort of goes back to basics, trying to change the hearts and minds. We used that approach overseas during war time,” Grisham said. “I think we have to use that same approach on extremists today. Especially on the web."