Barry Moore ‘proud to be on’ SPLC ‘Hatewatch’ list as group faces fiery hearings

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore turned up the heat on the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) during a contentious Capitol Hill hearing this Tuesday.

A Legal Showdown

The hearing comes as the SPLC faces a mounting legal battle, including criminal charges involving allegations that the organization concealed payments made to informants within extremist groups. During the session, Moore directly pressed Bryan Fair, the nonprofit's interim CEO, regarding the organization's cooperation with Alabama’s attorney general.

"What do you think the SPLC is withholding from the attorney general?" Moore asked. "It seems like they’ve slow walked the information, at least that’s what I’ve been told."

Fair largely deflected the pointed questioning, stating that all charges and inquiries would be handled by the organization's legal team in court. When questioned by Rep. Harriet Hageman about the group's funding, Fair maintained, "We don’t fund the KKK. We don’t fund hate groups."

The 'Hatewatch' Controversy

Moore also took the opportunity to address his own history with the SPLC, specifically his inclusion on the organization's "Hatewatch" database. He argued that the designation was spurred by his decision to display an "Appeal to Heaven" flag outside his office, a move documented by the SPLC in 2025.

"The Southern Poverty Law Center has spent years putting labels on other people. It has even used Hatewatch to target me," Moore said. "I think the reason I’m on the list, and there’s 11 congressmen on the list, is because we simply put a flag in front of our office that encouraged people to pray for this nation."

Following the hearing, Moore posted a video of his remarks to X, doubling down on his stance: "If flying a flag outside of my office encouraging prayer gets me on the SPLC target list, it’s a list I’m proud to be on!"

Facing Federal Charges

The tension in the hearing room reflected the severity of the legal challenges facing the SPLC. Last month, the organization pleaded not guilty in Alabama federal court to a variety of charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements. Federal prosecutors allege that the SPLC used shell companies to fund infiltration efforts and misled donors regarding an undercover program.