Letter to Elaine Duke, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security - Department Of Homeland Security's Decision To Block Funding For Organization Combatting White Supremacism

Letter

Dear Acting Secretary Duke,

In the aftermath of the horrific act of domestic terror in Charlottesville and the ongoing rise in right-wing extremism, we write regarding the Department of Homeland Security's decision to rescind a $400,000 Countering Violent Extremism grant to Life After Hate.

Life After Hate is a Chicago-based nonprofit created by former far-right extremists with the goal of helping radicalized members of the extreme right transition out of those movements and back into society. Since 2011, they have provided a much-needed service in fighting against radical white supremacist and right-wing extremist groups. When they were awarded a $400,000 grant under the Countering Violent Extremism program in January 2017 they were the sole recipient that targeted right-wing extremism.

In May 2017, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security warned that the white supremacist movement had carried out more attacks than any other domestic extremist groups over the past 16 years, and that they will likely continue to pose a lethal threat over the next year. Between 2000 and 2016, white supremacists were found responsible for 49 homicides in 26 attacks. Since November 2016, white supremacist and right-wing extremists have been particularly emboldened. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number of white supremacist groups has rebounded to 917, the largest number since 2010.

The timing of this report makes the Department's June 2017 decision to rescind Life After Hate's grant extremely troubling. At this moment, the Countering Violent Extremism program is not funding any organization that combats white nationalist extremism.

We respectfully request that DHS provide Congress with the following information:

Was anyone at the Department aware of this FBI report when they chose to defund Life After Hate? If so, why did they disregard these warnings?
Did any senior White House advisors play a role in rescinding Life After Hate's funding?
In light of Saturday's events in Charlottesville - where white supremacists and Nazis terrorized a community with a rally and a counter-protester was killed by an apparent neo-Nazi -- the need to prevent far-right extremism could never be more clear. The President's repeated equivocation in condemning neo-Nazis and white nationalists raise questions as to this administration's commitment to defeating right-wing hate.

We respectfully request that you clarify the reasons and process by which the Department chose to withdraw the grant, and would appreciate assurances that the Department of Homeland Security is actively combating right-wing hate.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. We await your timely response.

Sincerely

Raja Krishnamoorthi Danny Davis

Member of Congress Member of Congress

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