The FBI has cut ties with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) — the far-left organization responsible for designating several Christian and conservative organizations as “hate groups.” While the schism has been praised by supporters, there appears to be a general consensus: it’s a good step, but it should only be the beginning. And to amplify this momentum, Family Research Council (FRC) has spearheaded a petition — now backed by more than 30,000 Americans — urging a complete purge of SPLC influence from federal institutions.

FRC’s petition — garnering over 30,000 signatures — was hand-delivered to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Friday afternoon. Even as the FBI distances itself, FRC’s missive indicts the SPLC as a “partisan smear machine” that has unjustly vilified faith-driven groups like FRC, fostering national discord and, tragically, violence. The petition presses for sweeping action: “we need the entire Department of Justice and the rest of the federal government to sever ties with them too.” FRC outlined a roadmap forward, emphasizing the need to “continue applying pressure — through public statements, follow-up letters, and engagement with key officials — to ensure accountability.”

The roots of this rift trace back to a harrowing incident in 2012, when FRC itself fell victim to violence explicitly fueled by the SPLC’s controversial “hate map.” Floyd Corkins II scoured the online resource for targets, zeroing in on FRC’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. Armed with a 9mm handgun and a cache of 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches, Corkins entered the building intent on carnage. Corkins later confessed he planned to force-feed the sandwiches to his victims as a symbolic protest against the chain’s support for traditional marriage values. FRC building manager Leo Johnson heroically subdued the attacker, sustaining a gunshot wound in the process and preventing further tragedy. And yet, the SPLC’s designations persist.

By now, they’ve ensnared a wide array of groups — from the Heritage Foundation and Focus on the Family to parental rights organizations and even some classical education nonprofits — in a web of reputational peril that critics argue stifles free speech and invites real-world dangers (such as inciting violence). The SPLC also listed Turning Point USA on their “hate and extremism” report — the organization founded by the recently assassinated Christian and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

“The Southern Poverty Law Center long ago abandoned civil rights work and turned into a partisan smear machine,” wrote FBI Director Kash Patel in a post on X. “Their so-called ‘hate map’ has been used to defame mainstream Americans and even inspired violence. That disgraceful record makes them unfit for any FBI partnership.” As he further explained, “In April, during our Anti-Christian Bias Panel, I made it clear that the FBI will never rely on politicized or agenda-driven intelligence from outside groups — and certainly not from the SPLC. Under this FBI, all ties with the SPLC have officially been terminated.”

The SPLC has a long history of shaping the FBI training materials and threat assessments, drawing fire from lawmakers and civil liberties advocates alike. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a vocal critic, hailed the recent decision as “long overdue.” Founded in the 1970s as a bulwark against groups like the Ku Klux Klan, the SPLC has since ballooned into a progressive powerhouse, boasting a more than $700 million endowment — a milestone reached in 2023 — that’s been used to fund expansive campaigns beyond its civil rights origins.

FRC concluded, “The Trump administration has already taken many excellent steps, including starting the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, to walk back the hostility toward Christians seen and accelerated during previous administrations. We believe that by standing together, we will see the SPLC’s influence in our government come to an end.” And as FRC President Tony Perkins asserted, “I anticipate that the SPLC will not back down — and I can assure you that FRC will not.”