MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - A Christian media ministry has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Southern Poverty Law Center, Amazon and GuideStar USA Inc. for labeling their organization as a 'hate' group.
According to a release from D. James Kennedy Ministries (DJKM), the lawsuit alleges the and GuideStar USA, INC. conspired to create false and misleading information about the services offered by the ministry.
The suit further alleges the false information subjected the ministry to "disgrace, ridicule, odium, and contempt in the estimation of the public".
The suit also states that the basis for SPCL's declaration of the ministry as a 'hate' group is that the ministry espouses and supports biblical morals and principals concerning human sexuality.
DJKM also named GuideStar USA, INC., Amazon.com and the AmazonSmile Foundation, INC. in the lawsuit.
The AmazonSmile Foundation assists Amazon shoppers who wish to support their favorite charitable organization by shopping on smile.Amazon.com. A portion of the purchase is then donated to the organization, according to Amazon.
The lawsuit indicates DJKM tried to register its ministry with the AmazonSmile Foundation and after experiencing issues registering were told, "We rely on the Southern Poverty Law Center to determine which charities are in ineligible categories," The foundation was then told that the ministry had been placed on SPLC's list of hate groups and was ineligible to register.
SPLC President Richard Cohen released the following statement regarding the lawsuit:
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