In the past month, all rational people were made painfully aware that hate groups, such as the K.K.K., still exist. In 2016, no less.

While we would rather pretend these nasty people and their ridiculous clubs aren’t real, it’s probably best if we recognize their presence and do all we can to make sure we understand the severity of allowing these types of hateful groups to recruit new members.

So, you may be wondering what types of hate groups are active and taking members in the U.S. in 2016? Here are just a few of the groups who have recently reared their people hating heads in the past year.

1. The Ku Klux Klan (K.K.K.)

The K.K.K. and its racist rhetoric has been getting a lot of press lately because David Duke, former K.K.K. Grand Wizard, endorsed Donald Trump’s run for the U.S. presidency. Trump has since denounced the K.K.K., although it took him a long time to do so, a delay he blamed on a faulty earpiece.

While the group was thought to be an entity that most everyone disparaged, it has become quite obvious that there are a significant number of people who don’t entirely dislike this hate group. So, why doesn’t everyone denounce the K.K.K.?

The indifferent feelings people have about this hate group stem from the fear that immigrants, people of color, etc. are stealing white people’s jobs, money, and are becoming the American majority. Even though we can point to a reason why people support fear-fueled “take back the country” rhetoric, it doesn’t make the K.K.K.’s ongoing hateful legacy any more palatable.

2. Westboro Baptist Church

As a Kansas resident, I’m well aware of the Westboro Baptist Church and its homophobic insanity. The Church, founded by Fred Phelps, is based in Topeka, but its hate has spread across the country. The Church is known for picketing concerts it deems unsavory, funerals of people of all sorts-they recently picketed Justice Scalia’s funeral-and events that promote peace, tolerance, or unity. While the group basically hates everyone in America, its best known for its “God Hates Fags” tagline.

3. Men’s Rights Movement

The modern Men’s Rights Movement is alive and well. The Movement is fueled by various man-centered organizations-and sadly, some female supporters.

One predominate and uniquely disgusting sector of the Movement is populated by a group of men who support Daryush Valizadeh’s (aka Roosh V) “pro-rape” stance; he thinks rape should be legal if it’s done on private property. Valizadeh runs a pro-men’s rights blog called the Return of Kings. In the past few months, the blogger’s stance has been highly publicized and vigorously denounced. Feminists–male and female alike–are speaking out against the Men’s Rights Movement by stating that the women’s rights movement isn’t trying to take away men’s rights-its just working toward gender equality.

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Image of Trump rally via R. Gino Santa Maria, Shutterstock

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