© 2026 WGCU News
PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Florida Ranks 2nd Among States With Highest Hate Group Numbers

The number of active hate groups in Florida ranks second among other states in the nation.

The Miami Herald  reports that according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are more than 60 active hate groups in Florida. The SPLC's  report features a map detailing more than 900 hate groups actively operating across the country. California ranks number one with 79.

Four of the 63 in Florida are in Miami-Dade County and two are in Fort Lauderdale. The Nation of Islam is among groups in both areas.

The report says in 2016 there were 130 Ku Klux Klan groups and 193 Black Separatist groups active nationwide.

In 2011 the groups peaked at more than 1,000 before decreasing to 784 in 2014. Last year's 917 was part of an increase since.

Copyright 2020 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7. To see more, visit .

Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU
  • Two new members were appointed and one member reappointed Thursday to the Florida Gulf Coast Board of Trustees. Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Jim Drzymala and Douglas VanOort and the reappointment of Joseph Fogg III to the FGCU board.
  • The House has passed legislation that extends expired health care subsidies for those who get coverage through the Affordable Care Act. It's a remarkable rebuke of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who tried to stop it. But renegade Republican lawmakers joined with Democrats on a so-called "discharge petition" to force action. The health care tax breaks have lowered health insurance costs for roughly 22 million people, but expired last month. The Congressional Budget Office said the proposed three-year extension would increase the nation's deficit by about $80.6 billion over the decade, and increase the number of people with health insurance by millions. Members of the Senate are working on an alternative bill.
  • With cooler temperatures in store this winter, Florida Power and Light reminds customers of ways to save while heating their homes. Heating can take two to three times more energy than cooling, and this reflects in your monthly electricity bill.