The Public Affairs Department at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) issued the following apology recently after it was discovered that they had identified Alaska Family Council as a “hate group” during an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) training.
The training utilized information from the discredited Southern Poverty Law Center.
“It has come to our attention that the Alaska Family Council was identified during discussion of hate group activity during Equal Opportunity (EO) Training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for military members new to the installation. We extend our deepest apologies to the Alaska Family Council members. We have addressed the issue and will ensure the Alaska Family Council is not referred to as a hate group during this training. We have also removed—and will not include in future briefings—an infographic produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center that was included in the EO training slide deck. Although we routinely disclosed that in displaying the infographic we did not endorse its findings as reflective of the Federal Government’s position on hate groups, we have concluded its inclusion in the briefing is not essential for understanding prohibitions on participation in dissident and protest activities stipulated in Department of Defense Directive 1325.6 and Air Force Instruction 51-903.”
V/R – JBER Public Affairs – 552-8151
The story was covered by MustRead Alaska (HERE) and the Alaska Watchman (HERE) and although we accept and appreciate the apology, this issue is much bigger than Alaska Family Council. Many questions remain unanswered.
Who approved the Southern Poverty Law Center being used as a legitimate source of information ?
Who else is on their list as “hate groups” and how are they identified ?
What other military installations in and outside Alaska are utilizing SPLC material ?
Thanks so much for each of you who contacted JBER. We must remain vigilant in contending for the faith in the times we live.
As Dennis Prager has noted, “According to the SPLC, organizations that hold a conservative, Judeo-Christian worldview are likened to the ranks of the KKK and other extremist organizations.
Tech and media giants, like Twitter, Youtube/Google, and Facebook, use the SPLC’s hate group list as guidance. Subsequently, they suppress and censor conservative content.
The threat the SPLC poses against the freedom of speech is fueling the rising intolerance and often violence against conservative voices. They must be stopped.”
If you are outraged about how the U.S. military has forced it’s members to sit through trainings calling ministries many of them pray for, volunteer with and support as purveyors of “hate”, please make a gift today to grow our influence as we continue to expose darkness and shed light to transform our culture and communities for His glory.
Standing for families… in His name,
Jim Minnery – President
