Fact check: Are there any documented cases of organized groups targeting people based on race in US cities?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided suggest that there are indeed documented cases of organized groups targeting people based on race in US cities ^[1]. According to the DOJ’s Hate Crimes news archive, numerous prosecutions have been made against organized extremist groups, such as white-supremacist networks, for carrying out racially-motivated attacks ^[1]. Additionally, the PBS NewsHour segment reports on coordinated, group-level campaigns by white-supremacist groups, providing documented evidence of organized racial targeting ^[2]. The VOA article also outlines how extremist movements, including white supremacists, have been implicated in protest-related violence, indicating organized groups actively targeting people based on race ^[3]. Hate crime statistics also show a significant increase in hate crimes, with most victims targeted due to their race or ethnicity, supporting the claim that organized groups are targeting people based on race in US cities ^{[4] [5]}. Racial profiling is also evident, with sources providing evidence of racial profiling in California, where Black drivers were stopped more frequently than expected, and drivers from racial and ethnic groups of color were searched at higher rates than White drivers ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources do not provide specific examples of organized groups targeting people based on race, instead focusing on overall hate-crime trends and bias motivations in major U.S. cities ^[7]. Others highlight increases in anti-Black, anti-Jewish, and anti-Asian incidents, but do not reference organized groups carrying out racially-based attacks ^[8]. Alternative viewpoints may argue that the data on hate crimes is incomplete or does not tell the whole story ^[7], or that the focus on organized groups may overlook individual perpetrators of hate crimes. Context is also important, as the Southern Poverty Law Center’s investigation of coordinated, group-level campaigns by white-supremacist groups provides valuable insight into the scope of the problem ^[2]. Furthermore, the fact that some sources do not cite specific organized groups targeting people based on race does not necessarily mean that such groups do not exist, as evidenced by the numerous prosecutions made against organized extremist groups ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be too narrow in its focus on organized groups, as individual perpetrators of hate crimes may also be a significant problem ^[8]. Additionally, the statement may be biased towards highlighting the actions of white-supremacist groups, while overlooking the role of other extremist movements, such as antifa and anarchist groups, which have also been implicated in protest-related violence ^[3]. Misinformation may also arise from incomplete or inaccurate data on hate crimes, which can be influenced by various factors, such as underreporting or inconsistent reporting practices ^{[4] [7]}. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s investigation and the DOJ’s Hate Crimes news archive provide credible sources of information on organized groups targeting people based on race ^{[1] [2]}, but it is essential to consider multiple sources and alternative viewpoints to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue ^{[6] [8]}.