The group’s president, Richard Cohen, did not give a specific reason for the dismissal of Dees, 82, on Wednesday. But Cohen said in a statement that as a civil-rights group, the SPLC was “committed to ensuring that the conduct of our staff reflects the mission of the organization and the values we hope to instill in the world.”
“When one of our own fails to meet those standards, no matter his or her role in the organization, we take it seriously and must take appropriate action,” Cohen said.
Cohen’s statement suggested that Dees’ firing was linked to workplace conduct. He said the center, which is based in Montgomery, Alabama, had requested “a comprehensive assessment of our internal climate and workplace practices” in a bid to ensure that the organization was a place where “all voices are heard and all staff members are respected.”
In an interview Thursday evening, Dees said he had reviewed the SPLC’s statement on his dismissal but noted that it did not include any specific allegations against him.
“All I can say is it was not my decision,” said Dees, who added that he had limited involvement with the organization in recent years.
Asked whether he had engaged in any behavior that could have been perceived as improper, he replied, “I have no idea how people take things.”
Dees and the SPLC have been credited with undermining the influence of the Klan and other extremist-affiliated groups. But in recent years, the center has come under scrutiny for its classifications of “hate groups,” and whether the organization has abused that label in pursuit of a political agenda or increased donations.
Dees sold his book publishing business to begin the civil rights law practice that would eventually become the SPLC in 1971. His co-founders were civil rights leader Julian Bond and another young Montgomery lawyer, Joe Levin.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.