"Every now and then a news story comes along that touches a nerve in our community and generates an outpouring of response. Sunday's front-page story about the rise of hate groups in Big Sky country clearly was one of those.

By 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon the Tribune had received more than 125 reader comments on its website and Facebook page related to this article.

Many readers expressed their dismay that so many of these groups are active here; others vented their frustration with the Tribune for shining a negative light on Montana and its people by drawing attention to these extremists; and a few thanked us for doing the story. But none complained that we told them something they already knew.

The decisions to write about these groups and how to go about it were not taken lightly. The Tribune and its editors in no way condone these groups' beliefs or their activities. We promote diversity in everything we do.

But as Montana Human Rights Network Executive Director Travis McAdam echoed, ignoring these groups and hoping they go away does nothing to solve the problem."

Get the Story:
Matt Ochsner: Ignoring hate groups won't make them go away (The Great Falls Tribune 8/17)

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White supremacist enters a plea after threatening Indian man (7/29)
Teen in Montana acquitted of shooting in race related case (5/19)
Teen accused in race related shooting says he's part Native (5/18)