If you found out that a small business owner (in a non-urban community) was engaged in founding and participating in hate groups, what would you do? Assume the evidence is solid including posts and photos on the internet.
I’m curious as to posters’ thoughts on what they would do in this circumstance.
I’ll add that this is a real life situation, not hypothetical in this case.
I think that the best response would be to publicize on your social media platforms (Facebook, twitter, Instagram, etc). If you do not want to the info to be tracked to you, open a throw-away account, and share the info with a number of people with many followers (they do not have to follow you back for this). Somebody who is less vulnerable to attacks by racists will likely take care of spreading it further.
For small business owners, this type of publicity can be devastating, which is only a small part of what people who establish hate groups deserve.
Are they breaking any laws? If so, report them. If not, I would boycott them and tell those close to me to boycott them as well.
I certainly would not ever patronize their business and I would advise others not to.
I guess it depends. Is is a true hate group that most individuals would agree is actually a hate group, like the KKK? Or is it a group with political beliefs other than yours? People seem to have a wide variations of what they consider “hate groups” nowadays, from violent and extreme groups, to the opposite political party being called a hate group.
Assuming this is an extremist group, advocating violence, I would do the obvious things, like never frequent the business, and tell everyone I know. Maybe inform the local news outlets with evidence and information (as long as your name isn’t referenced in any story, for your safety), and let them take it from there.
Social media campaigns, particularly anonymously, are not a mature way to communicate disagreement or dialogue, so I would never take that approach. I would boycott, and even mention to the owner why I had decided to do so, so my absence wasn’t attributed to a different reason.
"I guess it depends. Is is a true hate group that most individuals would agree is actually a hate group, like the KKK? "
Yes. Both listed on SPLC’s site. Both are local chapters of larger orgs - in one case a group started abroad, the other in the USA.
Wow. I would probably start with contacting the non-emergency # for the local police (our city has an emergency number and a non-emergency number) and speak and provide specific evidence for your concern.
I would not take on the social media exposure. IMO my job is to put the info into the hands of authorities - or perhaps local responsible media to investigate.
At least that’s where I would start. And as noted above, not support them in anyway.
I’m really not into telling others what to do in this situation. I would stop patronizing the business myself. If the subject came up with friends, I might explain why. I would not diss someone on social media.
So, @doschicos, have you decided what you are going to (or not) do?
Here’s the approach I did take - I stumbled upon this knowledge some months back:
I haven’t contacted law enforcement or the media because, as despicable as it is, it is not illegal. Putting it out there publicly might even draw in people who share those beliefs. I don’t want to give that element any free publicity.
I haven’t put it on social media, or even in writing, even anonymously because things can be tracked (do I watch/read to many movies/books like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? Probably). I think people like this can have a tendency to be violent. I’d love to shout it from the rooftops but don’t want to connect myself or my family to anything for safety reasons.
I must say that when I drive by the establishment and see cars there, it is like a punch in the stomach, though. 
I’ve posted to see if anyone had any ideas I haven’t thought through.
Well, a guy reported an organization I was in as a white supremacy group to Maine’s Attorney General, so maybe that’s a good option.
(It is a homeowner’s association up at our camp in the Maine woods - the guy was a nut. I contacted the AG’s office and they said not to worry about it.)
I would avoid the business and let others in my circle know as well. As a side note, I don’t put a lot of stock in the SPLC list, they have groups such as the American Family Association listed.
What’s the SPLC list?
https://www.splcenter.org/
Southern Poverty Law Center
@HeartofDixie Suffice it to say, these would be considered hate groups by anyone who isn’t in the groups or similar groups.
@roycroftmom I disagree. Part of the reason that hate groups can continue to exist is because their activities are not publicized. As for the anonymous part - being targeted by a hate group is not a pleasant experience, and they will do that if the suspect that you are the one responsible.
Of course, we could all do the “adult” thing, and pretend that it isn’t happening, or simply have a private boycott. I am sure that one person not patronizing their business will bring them to their knees.
@thumper1 It isn’t “dissing”. There is a difference between posting that Joe Smith is having an affair, is ugly, or that his cakes taste like dirt, and posting a photo of him marching and chanting “Jews will not replace us”. We’re not even talking about whether the business owner is a racist, or whether they said something racist. We’re talking about founding a hate group.
Of course, it is always possible to “take the high road”, act “maturely”, and let hate groups proliferate without any paying any price. I am sure that will make a lot of difference. I am sure that hate groups shudder in fear of your silent disapproval.
Most news outlets will not pick up such a story UNLESS it has resulted in a viral online campaign. As for telling others - will you email 20 friends and tell them? Then they will share it with their friends, and they will share it with their friends, and voila, you have a social media campaign, albeit a slower one.
Since we are talking about actual verified proof, not rumor or innuendo, and I am talking about sharing actual information, not opinions, I stand by my advice. We are also not talking about some complex story, which would require investigative reporting.
Copied and pasted from SPLC on their definition of hate groups. Excuse the capitalization.
ALL HATE GROUPS
HAVE BELIEFS OR PRACTICES THAT ATTACK OR MALIGN AN ENTIRE CLASS OF PEOPLE, TYPICALLY FOR THEIR IMMUTABLE CHARACTERISTICS.
This is a tough scenario, @doschicos and you have my sympathy. Obviously you do not want to put yourself or your family at risk of harm. But just as obviously, hatred cannot be allowed to go unchecked and silence is complicity.
Have you thought about opening a twitter account anonymously and tweeting about it?
Are there any national companies that sell their items to the local business that could be shamed for doing business with them?
There is really no such thing as truly anonymous social media activity.