Marketing the Militias

[tb...@juts.ccc.amdahl.com]

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER, JUNE 26, 1995, PAGE 1
HEADLINE: "MARKETING THE MILITIAS"
SUBHEAD: "Morris Dees and the Southern Poverty Law Center are using the
Militia Controversy to Raise Funds, But Not All Donors
Approve of Their Methods."

By Dan Morse
Advertiser Staff Writer

In what appears to be a major fund-raising effort, the Southern Poverty
Law Center has mailed a series of letters centered on the April 19
bombing in Oklahoma City. The first letters, mailed nationwide 14 days
after the bombing, did not specifically ask for money. Two weeks later,
on May 17, the center wrote letters that pleaded for money.

"We need your help now with the most generous special gift you can make
to help us extend our Militia Task Force," the center's Morris Dees
wrote in a May 17 letter. "I know you have been very generous with
your annual renewal support, but times like these call for an extra
effort on all our parts. . . The strain on our current operating budget
is the greatest in our 25-year history."

What the center didn't mention was the center's reserves, which total
more than $60 million and are the largest in the groups history.

Founded in Montgomery in 1971, the Law Center has donors throughout
the nation. Since the bombing, the center has produced at least three
different types of militia letters. Three people who have given to
the Law Center in the past reacted differently after seeing the letters.

"It's almost like jumping on whatever shameful thing has happened in
the country to solicit funds," said Harvey Aronson, a Long Island man
who has sent about $1,000 to the center. "My impression always was that
they needed money. Some little group working out of practically a
storefront," he said recently.

Another donor, Edwin Guthman of Pacific Palisades, Calif., has given
since 1990. He also didn't know about the Law center's wealth. But
he said the timing of the militia fund-raising letter he received
didn't bother him. "I didn't give it a thought," Mr. Guthman said in
a recent interview. He will continue to give, saying the threat of
militias and the good work of the center are important. "I just feel
that they need to feel that they've got support and encouragement to
keep going," he said.

Elena Houlihan of Pittsburgh said she "highly, highly" approves of
previous Law Center programs. And she is concerned about militias.
But she added, "I think they (law center officials) are using it as
a way to get more money." From reading years of Law Center
fund-raising letters, Ms. Houlihan always got the impression the
charity needed money. Now she knows about the millions in reserve.
She will not give this year, but may do so in the future.

"They are misleading in their approach," she said. "...It's obvious
that they're running their programs without needing that much money.
Besides, I have a son in college, and I started thinking this over.
He actually needs some money from me."

The Law Center will continue to raise money until it reaches $100
million, Mr. Dees said. The charity could then operate off the
interest from investments. "We believe that will make it so we
won't have to (stay) in this tough business of raising money to
keep our programs going," Mr. Dees said in a recent speech to a
Montgomery civic club. In the meantime, Mr. Dees said he must raise
money for current operating costs.

The Southern Poverty Law Center took in an average of $41,602 a
day in the 1994 budget year, according to the Law center's most
recent audited financial statement. The charity spent only $13,403
a day-- 32 percent of its income-- on actual programs, according to
the forms. (That total is higher, 47 percent, if you account for some
fund-raising spending as program spending, which is what the Law Center
does. The center says its fund-raising letters are a form of public
education.)

In May, the Law Center mailed to donors three letters that mentioned
the Oklahoma City bombing, according to letters obtained by the
Montgomery Advertiser. The Law Center refused to provide any other
fund-raising letters about the militia. "The Advertiser has no
trouble getting our mailings," Executive Director Edward Ashworth
wrote in a May 30 letter to the newspaper in response to a written
question.

The center also mailed a fund-raising appeal dated April 27 asking
for "Militia Task Force" contributions. That letter does not mention
the April 19 Oklahoma bombing and appears to have been prepared before
the bombing. Mr. Dees remarked on the coincidence this way: "You know
that's interesting. That was timely wasn't it? I mean, we didn't know
the bomb was going to go off."

Since its founding, the Southern Poverty Law center has won a series
of legal battles to help victims of racial discrimination and racial
violence. More recently, the Law Center has supplied schools throughout
the nation with free videotapes and magazines designed to promote racial
tolerance. School teachers throughout the nation have praised the
material.

But the Law Center has always been run by white men and has a troubled
history with its own black employees. Charity oversight groups and
former staffers also have questioned the center's fund-raising tactics.
They say the center misleads its donors with desperate pleas for money
while storing away millions that could go to other charities.

In 1993, the American Institute of Philanthropy ranked the Law Center
as the fourth least-needy charity in the nation.

SEND MONEY

Here is how the center has raised money based on the need to stem the
militia movement, with key dates of other events, according to letters
obtained by the Advertiser:

**Dec. 7, 1994, Mr. Dees writes to donors: "..Our budget for 1995 was
already set up when we uncovered white supremacist ties to militias.
That's why we need your special support now." In the letter, Mr. Dees
enclosed a two-page, Oct. 25, 1994, militia warning letter to U.S.
Attorney General Janet Reno, a letter he has discussed during repeated
public appearances since the bombing.

**April 19: Bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Within
days, news reports link two of the bombing suspects to the Michigan
Militia.

**April 27: Mr. Dees testifies before a U.S. Senate committee on
terrorism in the United States.

**May 3: The Law Center mails a copy of the testimony to donors.
The letter doesn't ask for money. It does thank donors: "You have
given the center the strength and resources to be in the vanguard of
those seeking to expose and stop hate group violence. You can feel
very proud to be part of this crucial effort."

**May 17: The Law Center asks for money in a fund-raising letter:
"It is crucial that you renew your support for 1995 now. . .We must
do all in our power to help prevent more bombings and loss of life.
These are extraordinary times that call for extraordinary commitment.
Send the most generous renewal gift possible. Whatever you can send
will be appreciated."

**May 17: The Law Center asks for money in a different fund-raising
letter. In a post-script, Mr. Dees writes: "You may have seen us on
a number of television programs talking about the militia threat.
This exposure has brought numerous threats of violence to our staff
and property. This requires expending funds to increase our security.
Please send as generous a gift as possible.

ANTI-GOVERNMENT

Two of the donors interviewed for this story, Harvey Aronson and
Edwin Guthman, both are writers, editors and former newspaper
reporters. Both give to liberal charities. Mr. Aronson said he
doubted whether donations to the center would stop individual actions
by crazy people. "How would the fact if I sent money to the center's
Militia Task Force, how is that going to stop another (Timothy) McVeigh
from doing something?" he said.

But Mr. Guthman said the threat of militias outweighs any concerns
that the Law Center has too much money. The former editor of the
Philadelphia Inquirer recently served on a three-person panel that
reviewed the ATF's handling of the raid of the Branch Davidian compound
near Waco, Texas, on April 19, 1993. The panel reported its findings
to the U.S. Treasury Department.

He wrote this about Waco: "The raid was a less-than-professional
law-enforcement effort that had a disastrous outcome. . .but those
persons who are distorting what happened to attack the government
are dishonest and those who would excuse or 'understand' the Oklahoma
City bombing as retaliation for Waco simply don't know what they're
talking about."

As a member of the panel, Mr. Guthman has been on talk shows where
he's heard from anti-government citizens. "Just from my limited
experience of the call-ins of the shows I've been on, you just wonder,
"Geez, come on, folks."

(Front Page photo shows sample fund-raising letters with this legend
across the front of the envelope:
"EMERGENCY UPDATE ON MILITIA TERRORISTS").

[JH Capt]

Concerning the comments Morris Dees made about threats and the need for
more money and increased security.
MY NAME IS JOHN HASSEY--Of Montgomery Alabama. Born and raised there.
I am also in Central Alabama Militia. Battalion Commander and on the
command staff. We are linked to units all over the state. NO MILITIA
MEMBER HAS EVER MADE ANY THREATS TO morris dees!!! WE do talk about him
because some of us believe he is two faced. Now this is just an opinion
and not shared by all militia. We believe he is using the Militia Movement
to pad his pockets. Some of us believe that he is not even interested in
anyones rights except his own. I do not believe morris has even read the
Constitution of these united states of America nor does he understand or
comprehend it or even care. Now this is just an opinion formed by
observation and not necessarily shared by all Militia people.
After all -- I was born and raised in Montgomery Alabama. For those that
send money to such organizations-- My advice --- Count your money -- where
did it go?? If you truly want to do something good and lasting --- FIGHT
TYRANNY--
Support your local Militia!! Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for
all people regardless of race creed color or religion. Long Live The
Republic !!!

Stated from my own
thoughts
sign me Capt. John Hassey -----Member of the DIAMOND RING!!!!!!
1st Brigade 2nd Battalion ( we watch those
that watch us )
Central Alabama Militia

[jim forest]

hey morriss, sure beats working for a living doesn't it!