Morris Seligman Dees Jr., born on December 16, 1936, in Shorter, Macon County, Alabama, is an American attorney and civil rights activist renowned for his work combating hate groups. Growing up in the segregated South during an era of widespread racial prejudice, Dees initially pursued a career in business, co-founding a successful direct marketing firm before shifting his focus to civil rights. In 1971, he co-founded the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in Montgomery, Alabama, alongside attorney Joseph J. Levin Jr., serving as chief trial counsel. Under his leadership, the SPLC pioneered innovative legal strategies, including 'damage litigation,' to dismantle organizations like the Ku Klux Klan through high-profile lawsuits that bankrupted hate groups and held them accountable for violence and discrimination. His tenure spanned nearly five decades, during which the organization grew into one of the largest civil rights nonprofits in the United States, monitoring extremist activities and advocating for marginalized communities. His efforts earned him recognition as a key figure in the fight against white supremacy and hate, with notable victories including lawsuits against neo-Nazi groups and the Aryan Nations. However, his career was not without controversy; in 2019, he was dismissed from the SPLC amid allegations of workplace misconduct, including racial and gender discrimination, though details remain disputed. Despite this, his legacy in civil rights law endures, having transformed the landscape of accountability for hate organizations. A native Southerner, Dees has been described as a political activist and human rights defender whose early experiences in Alabama shaped his commitment to justice. He continues to be associated with progressive causes, though his post-SPLC activities are less publicized.