The Southern Poverty Law Center more than doubled its revenue in the months following the deadly 2017 Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally — a surge now drawing renewed scrutiny after a Department of Justice indictment alleged the group paid an informant tied to the event's organizers.
The 2017 rally, which left one woman dead after a car attack, became a cultural flashpoint over white nationalism and political violence. The fallout shaped the 2020 presidential election, as President Donald Trump's response — including his remarks about "very fine people" on both sides — drew widespread criticism from Democrats.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives have pointed to the indictment as evidence of potential manipulation by civil rights organizations, questioning whether SPLC informant activities may have played a role in amplifying or facilitating extremist activity.
Journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon wrote on X: "For years, the Left used the 'Jews will not replace us' 2017 Unite the Right rally as proof of rampant antisemitism on the Right. Turns out, it was underwritten by the Leftist SPLC, which allegedly funded organizers, supervised racist posts, and coordinated transportation."
The 11-count indictment charges the SPLC with wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the DOJ, one source identified as "F-37" was part of an online leadership chat group that planned the 2017 Unite the Right event and attended "at the direction of the SPLC."
What the Left Is Saying
SPLC defenders and progressive allies have emphasized the organization's role in monitoring extremist groups and maintaining that its informant work, even if controversial, served a legitimate purpose in tracking dangerous organizations.
A spokesperson for the Southern Poverty Law Center called the DOJ allegations "false" and defended the organization's decades of work monitoring extremist groups. The group stated it plans to vigorously defend itself and continue its mission of combating hate.
The SPLC has argued that its use of informants "saved lives" by providing law enforcement with intelligence on extremist organizations. The organization, founded in 1971, has long been a central resource for tracking hate groups and providing documentation of extremist activity.
What the Numbers Show
According to financial records, the SPLC's total public support and net assets grew from $51 million in 2016 to $133 million by October 2017 — a surge that followed the Unite the Right rally.
The donation surge was driven in part by contributions from prominent public figures. George Clooney and his wife Amal donated to the SPLC, with Clooney stating at the time that they "wanted to add our voice and financial assistance to the ongoing fight for equality… there are no two sides to bigotry and hate."
Apple CEO Tim Cook also donated following the rally, saying "what occurred in Charlottesville has no place in our country. Hate is a cancer, and left unchecked it destroys everything in its path." Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Resorts donated $1 million, according to records uncovered by Fox News Digital.
The DOJ indictment alleges the SPLC secretly paid informant F-37 more than $270,000 between 2015 and 2023. The indictment describes a "covert network" that was associated with or infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan and other groups at the organization's direction.
The Bottom Line
The DOJ indictment marks a significant legal challenge to an organization that has long been viewed as a primary authority on tracking extremist groups in the United States. The case raises questions about the ethics and oversight of informant networks used by civil society organizations to monitor hate groups.
The SPLC has denied the allegations and intends to mount a vigorous defense. The case is expected to involve complex questions about the legal boundaries of informant activities and whether organizations can be held criminally liable for actions taken by paid informants.
What happens next: The case will proceed through the federal court system. Legal experts say convictions on wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering charges could carry significant financial penalties, restitution and forfeiture. The SPLC's future operations and reputation as a civil rights monitoring organization may depend heavily on the outcome.