In existence from 1979-2008, Reverent C.T. Vivian and Anne Braden founded the National Anti-Klan Network, becoming the Center for Democratic Renewal in 1985. The CDR’s mission was dedicated to the advancement of a democratic, diverse and just society, free of racism and bigotry. The CDR monitored hate crimes as well as hate groups and was best known for their research, publications, public information, training and helping local communities to address hate activities.

The CDR helped put language that included sexual orientation in the Hate Crimes Statistical Reporting Act (1990). They were the first to expose the skinhead movement, the Christian Identity Church (white supremacist theology), and the epidemic of black church burnings in the South. They worked in collaboration with the National Council of Churches as a research arm and to enact the federal Church Arson Task Force. The CDR convened the first Hate Crime Summit and the first national summit of diverse young leaders on youth and hate Violence. The organization also founded the National Coalition of Burned Churches to address the continuing arsons and out of the CDR’s Southern Action Project, established the National Southern Coalition Against Racism and Bigotry that involved 80 organizations.

Staff included: Chris Freeman, Haima Major, Czerny Miller, Trish O’Kane, Arndrea Waters, Daniel Levitas, Lynora Williams, Lynn Wells, Joann Watson, and Leonard Zeskind, Beni Ivey. Board of Directors included: C.T. Vivian, Anne Braden, Martin Luther King III, Charles Fulwood, Ralph Paige, Julian Bond, Judy Hanenkrat, Hilary Shelton, Leah Wise, Tom Turnipseed, Eva Sears, and Lucius Walker.

[Note: Description modified from the CDR publication “When Hate Groups Come to Town: Faith Based Edition.”]