George and Amal Clooney donate $1m to combat far-right hate in the US after Charlottesville

George and Amal have pledged to fight "bigotry and hate"
Kevin Winter/Getty
Harriet Pavey23 August 2017

George and Amal Clooney have donated $1 million to fight “bigotry and hate” in the wake of white supremacist violence in Charlottesville.

The Clooney Foundation for Justice has granted the funds to the not-for-profit Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to combat violent extremism in the US.

The SPLC monitors hate groups and extremists, specialising in civil rights and education.

“Amal and I wanted to add our voice (and financial assistance) to the ongoing fight for equality,” George Clooney said. “There are no two sides to bigotry and hate.”

“We are proud to support the Southern Poverty Law Center in its efforts to prevent violent extremism in the United States,” the pair added in a statement. “What happened in Charlottesville, and what is happening in communities across our country, demands our collective engagement to stand up to hate.”

SPLC president Richard Cohen said their donation was welcomed, especially at a time when Trump’s campaign has “energised the radical right.”

“Like George and Amal Clooney, we were shocked by the size, ugliness, and ferocity of the white supremacist gathering in Charlottesville,” he said in a statement. “

“It was a reflection of just how much Trump’s incendiary campaign and presidency have energised the radical right. We are deeply grateful to the Clooney Foundation for standing with us at this critical moment in our country’s fight against hate.”

The Clooney Foundation for Justice was co-founded by George and Amal in 2016 “to advance justice in courtrooms, classrooms and communities around the world.”

Earlier this month George and Amal announced plans to donate millions of dollars to help Syrian refugee children go to school.

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