-Hosted by Tony Harris, the First Installment of New Series Premieres TONIGHT at 8/7c, Only on ID-
Investigation Discovery (ID) and Emmy Award-winning journalist Tony Harris are teaming up once again with premiere civil rights advocacy organization, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), to produce HATE IN AMERICA, a new documentary strand that showcases the SPLC’s efforts to combat bigotry and hate groups in the United States. The mission of the SPLC and its legendary founder, Morris Dees, are to combat the hate, intolerance and discrimination perpetuated by these groups through education, litigation and advocacy.
According to the SPLC’s 2015 Intelligence Report, the number of extremist groups operating domestically grew by 14% from 2014, and the SPLC catalogued an astounding 892 hate groups in the US, including neo-Nazis, white nationalists, black separatists, Klansmen and other groups that target the LGBT community. Produced by NBC News’ award-winning production arm Peacock Productions, the documentary series HATE IN AMERICA kicks off with its first premiere on Monday, February 29 at 8/7c, showcasing the SPLC’s remarkable strides to fight organized hate over the past four decades.
In the first episode of HATE IN AMERICA, titled The Klan on Trial, Harris explores some of the SPLC’s most riveting court cases, starting with the Michael Donald case – a heinous lynching of a young man in the early 1980s that prompted SPLC founder Morris Dees to sue the United Klans of America (UKA) on behalf of the victim’s mother. In this landmark court decision, the UKA’s violent leadership was held responsible for the unspeakably violent and racist acts of its members, helping to turn the tide against organized hate in our country. Harris also digs deep into the deeds of notorious white supremacist murderer Glenn Miller, who most recently made national headlines when he went on a shooting spree at a Kansas Jewish Community Center in April 2014.
The first episode of HATE IN AMERICA, The Klan on Trial premieres on Monday, February 29 at 8/7c on Investigation Discovery,
Additional episode descriptions are below:
HATE IN AMERICA: Lone Wolves
Episode Premiere: Airdate TBA
In this episode of HATE IN AMERICA, Harris investigates the rise of the lone wolf, revealing startling information about the dramatic increase of this deadly threat. Over the last six years alone, there have been more than 60 incidents of domestic terrorism planned by “lone wolf” attackers or pairs. That averages out to one incident every 34 days. Harris travels the country to investigate three distinct lone wolf attacks, delving into the psychology of the twisted minds of the shooters, including an anti-Semitic attack at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2009, the ambush of two police officers and a bystander by anti-government extremists in Las Vegas in 2014, and the 2015 massacre by a white supremacist at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
HATE IN AMERICA: A Town on Fire
Episode Premiere: Airdate TBA
Flathead Valley, Montana. Sitting just outside Glacier National Park, this secluded corner of the nation is dotted with snow-capped peaks and striking vistas. But over the last decade, this idyllic setting has become home to an increasing number of white supremacists and anti-government radicals. Some of them envision the creation of an all-white homeland in this remote area, while others see it as a modern-day Alamo where they can escape from the invasive reach of the government. Harris travels to Montana to see for himself what is happening in Flathead Valley, and how communities are reacting to this convergence of extremists in their own backyards.
HATE IN AMERICA is produced for Investigation Discovery by NBC News’ Peacock Productions with Sharon Scott as President and GM and Elizabeth Fischer, and Knute Walker as Executive Producers. For Investigation Discovery, Lorna Thomas is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel and Destination America.
The 2015 Year in Hate report, contained in the Spring 2016 issue of the SPLC’s investigative journal, Intelligence Report, can be read at www.splcenter.org. Readers will also find a list of hate groups showing their names, types and locations across the country.
About The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality. Founded by civil rights lawyers Morris Dees and Joseph Levin Jr. in 1971, the SPLC is internationally known for tracking and exposing the activities of hate groups. Its innovative Teaching Tolerance program produces and distributes – free of charge – documentary films, books, lesson plans and other materials that promote tolerance and respect in our nation’s schools. The SPLC is based in Montgomery, Alabama, the birthplace of the modern civil rights movement, and has offices in Atlanta, New Orleans, Miami, and Jackson, Mississippi. http://www.splcenter.org.
About NBC News’ Peacock Productions
Peacock Productions, a division of NBC News, is a nonfiction production company that combines the editorial expertise, technical resources, and seasoned talent of NBCUniversal to create series, events, and live specials for global audiences. Peacock Productions reaches more than 300 million people worldwide every year across broadcast, cable, syndication, and emerging platforms with its award-winning specials and series. Sharon Scott is the President and General Manager. For more information, visit: http://www.peacockproductions.tv/
About Investigation Discovery
Investigation Discovery (ID) is the leading mystery-and-suspense network on television. From harrowing crimes and salacious scandals to the in-depth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries that result, the “always revealing” network challenges our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. One of our nation’s fastest growing cable networks, ID delivers the highest-quality programming to 85 million U.S. households and is available in both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD). For more information, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com, facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery, or twitter.com/DiscoveryID. Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.
with subsequent premieres airing throughout 2016.