SPLC president resigns amid allegations of discrimination, misconduct

Make sure to let us know what you think... we now have comments turned ON below the article!

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a decidedly liberal non-profit civil rights organization, has for decades been held up by the left as an unassailable arbiter of all that is right and good. But in the course of just a week, everything has changed for the SPLC.

Several of the group’s top executives, including its president, have now walked away from the organization in the wake of internal turmoil over accusations of discrimination, racism, sexism, and misconduct.

SPLC president resigns in disgrace

Richard Cohen announced on Friday that he would be resigning from his top role at the SPLC, which he has been with since 1986.

“Whatever problems exist at the SPLC happened on my watch, so I take responsibility for them,” Cohen wrote in an internal email obtained by the Los Angeles Times and other media outlets.

Cohen’s departure came just one week after he had fired the SPLC’s co-founder, chief litigator, and public face — Morris Dees — over unspecified allegations of misconduct.

“When one of our own fails to meet those standards, no matter his or her role in the organization, we take it seriously and must take appropriate action,” Cohen said of Dees’ firing, according to a report from the Montgomery Adviser, which has long reported on the various goings-on involving the Alabama-based civil rights organization.

Dees co-founded the SPLC in 1971 and been with the organization ever since, even as he faced anonymous allegations of racial discrimination against employees in the mid-1990s.

Cohen also requested in his email to other members of the organization that they refrain from reaching premature conclusions until an internal review is conducted.

Tina Tchen, who previously served as chief of staff to former First Lady Michelle Obama, has been tapped to lead that review.

Allegations remain unclear

Cohen’s resignation was not the only high-profile departure from the organization on Friday. The SPLC’s legal director, Rhonda Brownstein, also tendered her resignation that day for unclear reasons.

She declined a request for comment from the L.A. Times.

These resignations came on the heels of the recent departure of top attorney Meredith Horton, an African-American woman who’d cryptically suggested in an internal email that there were significant internal issues at the SPLC that needed to be dealt with.

That move prompted roughly two dozen employees to raise concerns about “allegations of mistreatment, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and racism” — concerns that culminated in Cohen’s resignation.

The SPLC has made a name for itself by smearing prominent figures on the right as racist and sexist bigots and haters. But as it turns out, those smears were nothing but projection to distract everyone from the bigotry, racism, and sexism that was occurring within its own ranks.

293 Responses

  1. I simply want to tell you that I am just all new to weblog and definitely loved this website. Probably I’m planning to bookmark your blog . You amazingly have very good well written articles. Thanks for sharing with us your website page.

  2. I just want to say I am all new to blogging and actually liked you’re web blog. More than likely I’m planning to bookmark your website . You amazingly come with superb posts. Many thanks for sharing with us your web page.

  3. Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your content seem to be running off the screen in Opera. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know. The design look great though! Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Thanks|

  4. Admiring the time and energy you put into your blog and detailed information you present. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Excellent read! I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  5. Keep up the superb piece of work, I read few blog posts on this web site and I believe that your web site is real interesting and contains sets of fantastic info .

  6. Magnificent items from you, man. I have consider your stuff prior to and you’re simply extremely fantastic. I actually like what you’ve got right here, really like what you’re stating and the way wherein you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it wise. I cant wait to read far more from you. That is really a tremendous website.

  7. I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You are wonderful! Thanks!

  8. Very good blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any suggestions? Thank you!

  9. Good ¡V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related info ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task..

  10. Awesome blog you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really like to be a part of community where I can get comments from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thank you!

  11. Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything. However imagine if you added some great graphics or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and video clips, this website could undeniably be one of the most beneficial in its niche. Excellent blog!

  12. I must express thanks to this writer just for rescuing me from this particular circumstance. Right after scouting throughout the world wide web and finding views which are not powerful, I thought my entire life was done. Being alive minus the solutions to the difficulties you’ve resolved as a result of your main website is a serious case, as well as ones which may have in a negative way affected my entire career if I had not noticed the blog. Your actual knowledge and kindness in touching every part was priceless. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come upon such a point like this. It’s possible to at this moment look ahead to my future. Thanks for your time so much for your high quality and amazing help. I won’t be reluctant to propose your web page to any individual who would like direction about this subject matter.

  13. This design is spectacular! You obviously know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

  14. Great write-up, I¡¦m normal visitor of one¡¦s web site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.

  15. I’ve learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you place to create this kind of wonderful informative web site.

  16. Normally I do not read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice article.

  17. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say wonderful blog!

  18. I think this internet site contains some really good information for everyone. “The penalty of success is to be bored by the attentions of people who formerly snubbed you.” by Mary Wilson Little.

  19. I found your weblog site on google and verify a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the excellent operate. I simply extra up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. In search of ahead to studying extra from you in a while!…

  20. Simple & Powerful Uploadea is Amazingly easy to Use where to Store Your Data & Save Your Countless Time

  21. Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon everyday. It’s always exciting to read through content from other authors and use something from their sites. |

  22. certainly like your web-site however you have to test the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the reality on the other hand I¡¦ll surely come again again.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Popular