The recent descent of leading civil rights organizations into far-left activism, such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union, has raised questions about their credibility and mission. The SPLC has faced numerous controversies, including allegations of using claims of “hate” as a fundraising scam and targeting individuals and organizations for political reasons. Meanwhile, the ACLU’s steady descent away from free speech absolutism has led to an internal debate over whether supporting progressive causes is more important. Another trend in recent years is the politicization of scientific organizations, exemplified by Nature magazine’s political endorsement of Joe Biden and its vow to continue making political endorsements. This approach has been criticized by some, who argue for open debate and the dangers of organizations taking political stances on complex scientific issues. These examples demonstrate the need for organizations to remain focused on their original missions and to avoid becoming politicized.
Recent Examples of the Woke Capture of America’s Institutions
According to O’Sullivan’s Law, organizations that are not explicitly right-wing will eventually become left-wing. This phenomenon has been observed throughout American history, as liberal institutions of civil society have been increasingly captured by far-left activists who seek to repurpose them for their own ends.
The recent behavior of two once-venerable institutions illustrates this trend. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which was once a leading light of the civil rights movement, has degenerated into a cesspool of grievance politics, intersectionality, race-baiting, and crass partisan politicking. The Florida chapter of the NAACP has even asked its national board to issue a travel advisory against visiting the state, due to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent efforts to remove racialist indoctrination from public universities and drop leftist indulgences such as “queer studies” from the model AP African American Studies curriculum. DeSantis rightly dismissed the request as a joke.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is another institution that has veered away from its historical mission. Once a bastion of free speech, the ACLU famously defended the First Amendment rights of neo-Nazi provocateurs who wanted to march in a heavily Jewish suburb of Illinois. However, the organization has since become divided by an internal debate over whether supporting progressive causes is more important than defending free speech. As a New York Times article from 2021 put it, the ACLU now faces an identity crisis.
These recent examples show how liberal institutions that were once respected and non-partisan have been hijacked by far-left activists who seek to use their power to promote their own political agendas. While it is not a new phenomenon, it is disheartening to see venerable organizations succumb to this trend. It remains to be seen if any can reverse course and return to their original mission.
Recent Examples of Once-Iconic Civil Rights Organizations Descending into Far-Left Activism
Recent events have shown how once-iconic civil rights organizations in America have descended into far-left activism. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been embroiled in an “internal debate” over whether to prioritize free speech or progressivism, as seen in a video where a former high-ranking local ACLU official questioned the value of allowing Judge Kyle Duncan to speak freely at Stanford Law School. Additionally, the ACLU has refused to engage in open debate on the topic of biological male athletes competing in women’s sports, despite having a section on their website dedicated to “transgender rights.”
Another organization that has descended into far-left activism is the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). In recent years, the SPLC has faced numerous controversies that have called into question their credibility. One such controversy involved an SPLC attorney named Thomas Jurgens, who was arrested and charged with domestic terrorism for his role in mob attacks on Atlanta’s “Cop City” training facility. Another blow to the SPLC’s credibility came when the FBI rescinded a memo on the alleged dangers of “radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology,” which heavily cited the SPLC’s biased use of “hate maps” and targeting of “hate groups.”
Finally, Nancy Abudu, a radical Biden nominee to a judgeship on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, is the current sitting director of strategic litigation for the SPLC. While there, Abudu has made many outlandish statements, including claiming that the modern American criminal justice system is “practically the same…as during slavery.”
These recent examples demonstrate how civil rights organizations that were once highly respected have been hijacked by far-left activists who seek to advance their own political agendas. The controversies surrounding these organizations have caused many to question their credibility and mission. It remains to be seen if they can reverse course and return to their original purpose of fighting for civil rights and liberties.
Politicization of Leading Organizations
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has faced numerous controversies in recent years, including allegations that its claims of “hate” are a “cynical fundraising scam.” The organization has also been accused of targeting individuals and organizations for political reasons, with one former staffer claiming that the SPLC personally targeted him in a series of hit pieces. These controversies have led many to question the SPLC’s credibility as a civil rights organization.
Another trend in recent years has been the politicization of leading scientific organizations. For example, Nature magazine’s 2020 presidential endorsement of Joe Biden was criticized for eroding trust in both science as a discipline and the journal itself. Despite this criticism, Nature has vowed to continue making political endorsements, claiming that “science must speak out” when candidates threaten reason.
However, not all scientific organizations agree with this approach. Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of rival Science magazine, criticized Nature‘s decision to double down on political endorsements and argued that it is not acceptable to deny the reality of climate change, but also that government regulation may not be the best approach. Thorp’s comments highlight the need for open debate and the dangers of organizations taking political stances on complex scientific issues.
These recent examples demonstrate the dangers of organizations becoming politicized and straying from their original missions. As O’Sullivan’s Law states, “all organizations that are not explicitly right-wing will over time become left-wing,” and this trend has never been more apparent. It remains to be seen if these organizations can regain their credibility and refocus on their original purposes.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
