The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is under indictment by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The indictment followed the convening of a grand jury, an independent group of citizens, who determined there was probable cause to pursue the charges.
In an announcement yesterday, the DOJ stated that SPLC was being charged with wire fraud, false statements, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The allegations claim that SPLC contributed funds to extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nation, and National Socialist Party of America. Apparently, between 2014 and 2023, the SPLC provided more than $3 million in donated funds to individuals who were associated with various violent extremist groups.
One high-profile event that the SPLC funded was the “Unite the Right” rally, which became a controversial issue during the last presidential election.
The non-profit based in Alabama reportedly raises over $1oo million a year and claims a mission to be a catalyst for racial justice.
Following the announcement, social media pointed a finger at PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL), which apparently used the SPLC to deny services to individuals or groups deemed unsavory by the SPLC.
Karol Markowicz, a columnist for the New York Post, reminded viewers of a prior post that declared the SPLC a “total scam” while criticizing PayPal for taking advice from the group.
“… That PayPal is taking advice from these 2 groups is reason enough to drop service even if you don’t think you’ll be targeted.”
The post links to an article in the Free Press that asks, “What the Hell Happened to PayPal?”
PayPal, among others, has been lambasted for actions described as “debanking” – a nefarious policy of determining who may use their services based on political or business affiliations.
A reminder than in 2022 SPLC (and the ADL 🙄) worked with PayPal to decide which “extreme” groups to remove from PayPal’s service…all the while funding actually extreme groups. https://t.co/OyxFZKK6g1
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) April 22, 2026
Other firms have received criticism for donating to the SPLC without scrutinizing the organization’s activities, which apparently did not align with the organization’s mission.