‘Hate In America: Lone Wolves’ Examines Why Some People Commit Horrific Crimes Of Domestic Terrorism
A lone wolf could potentially be almost anyone, but this person has a very different (and dangerous) mindset than most individuals. Veteran journalist Tony Harris investigates the deadly homegrown threat of lone wolves that is spreading across the nation. He walks the streets of communities that are left shaken by hate, trying to make sense of the twisted minds of these lone wolves as they bring their deadly plans to life.
#HateInAmerica: @DiscoveryID Investigates Most Dangerous White Supremacists/Hate Groups In US History. #NewsOneNowhttps://t.co/nlYmb9zTuO
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) May 18, 2016
Broadway World shared that in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the massacre at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, Investigation Discovery (ID) will air the third installment of Hate in America: Lone Wolves. Lone Wolves focuses on this tragic story and other acts of domestic terrorism that are executed by “lone wolf” perpetrators.
Lone Wolves will follow Tony Harris and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as they investigate the rise of this deadly threat. According to Red Carpet Crash, one sobering and shocking fact that is shared by Harris is that over the last six years, there have been more than 60 incidents of domestic terrorism planned by lone wolves. This averages out to one incident approximately every 34 days.
The SPLC was founded by civil rights lawyers Morris Dees and Joseph Levin, Jr., in 1971. Based out of Montgomery, Alabama, which is known as the birthplace of the modern civil rights movement, their goal is to track and expose the activities of hate groups. They also provide through their Teaching Tolerance program free documentary films, books, lesson plans, and other materials that are designed to promote tolerance and respect in schools
Hate in America showcases various stories from the case files of the SPLC. For over four decades, this organization has been dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry through the use of both litigation and education. According to their 2015 Intelligence Report that was released earlier in the spring, the number of extremist groups operating domestically has grown over 14 percent from 2014.
In 2015, hate groups in the US grew to 892 total, a nearly 14 percent increase over 2014 https://t.co/LMTb73Nxzt pic.twitter.com/zRBT65Moos
— Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) February 17, 2016
The SPLC has identified over 892 hate groups in the U.S. alone. This includes neo-Nazis, white nationalists, black separatists, Klansmen, and other groups that target the LGBTQ community. According to the SPLC, these groups have one agenda, and that is to divide society through bigotry, hate, and violence. Lone wolves take it one step further when they have their own agenda and decide to take matters into their own hands by launching a violent attack.
As Harris travels the country to investigate three specific attacks perpetrated by lone wolves, he will attempt to unravel the psychology behind the twisted minds of the shooters. Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLC Intelligence Project, says that in the simplest of terms, lone wolves are someone who decides to commit a terrorist act on their own. Lone wolves usually become radicalized in some way into an ideology and then after they purchase that weapon or create that bomb, the lone wolves then commit the attack.
Harris will be taking a closer look at lone wolves as he travels across the country to tell three tragic stories. Through interviews and more, he will take a closer look at what occurred during the anti-Semitic attack at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2009, the ambush of two police officers and a bystander by anti-government extremists in Las Vegas in 2014, and the 2015 massacre of nine people during a prayer meeting in a historic black church located in Charleston.
Hate in America: Lone Wolves is produced for Investigation Discovery by NBC News’ Peacock Productions with Sharon Scott as president and general manager. Elizabeth Fischer and Knute Walkers serve as executive producers. For Investigation Discovery, Lorna Thomas is executive producer, with Sara Kozak serving as senior vice president of production. Kevin Bennett is the general manager, and Henry Schleiff is group president of Investigation Discovery, the American Heroes Channel, and Destination America.
Will you be watching this riveting, one-hour special? Leave your comments, thoughts, and opinions below. Hate in America: Lone Wolves premieres on Saturday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET on the Investigation Discovery channel.
[Image via Lorenzo Harris, Ph.d/Twitter]
