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An FBI informant working undercover inside a Florida chapter of the Ku Klux Klan exposed a troubling connection between the white supremacist organizationxe2x80x99s members and local law enforcement agencies.

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For ten years, Joe Moore worked as a confidential informant in the FBIxe2x80x99s Joint Terrorism Task Force, as a key component of the agencyxe2x80x99s investigation into the KKK. The married father of three gathered information on the KKK in Jacksonville, Florida from 2007 to 2017, where he helped foil at least two murder plots and exposed active members working inside law enforcement at the county and state levels.

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Moore is speaking out now because he says his life xe2x80x93xe2x80x93 and his familyxe2x80x99s lives xe2x80x93xe2x80x93 are under threat by the very people he helped take down.

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xe2x80x9cWe live in a constant state of danger,xe2x80x9d Moore told The Associated Press, adding that hexe2x80x99s speaking out xe2x80x9cbefore something does happen to me.xe2x80x9d

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Moore says that while members of the KKK state that they are a xe2x80x9d law-abidingxe2x80x9d and peacefulxe2x80x9d organization, behind closed doors, itxe2x80x99s a completely different story.

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xe2x80x9cIn secret, they constantly discuss violent acts in support of their ideology,xe2x80x9d Moore said, adding that members frequently use the N-word. xe2x80x9cFrom day one, I decided I would never use that term, even if it created a more dangerous situation for myself,xe2x80x9d he said.

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xe2x80x9cWhen Ixe2x80x99m with these guys, Ixe2x80x99m in that character. I realize that any moment, I could hear a bang,xe2x80x9d he said, noting that if he were to be found out, xe2x80x9cIxe2x80x99d be murdered.xe2x80x9d

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By 2014, Moore rose in the ranks of the KKK, becoming a security officer and was approached by three other members who worked as prison guards. The three men wanted Moorexe2x80x99s help in killing a Black man incarcerated at the prison where they worked.

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Moore alerted the FBI, who staged a photo of the manxe2x80x99s death used to confirm the prison guard-KKK memberxe2x80x99s involvement in the plot.

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Across his time working undercover, Moore said he came into contact with people who were former and active military service members, law enforcement officers at the state, local, and county levels. Moorexe2x80x99s work also added that the KKK was recruiting new members at Florida prisons xe2x80x93xe2x80x93 something the state Department of Corrections denies.

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xe2x80x9cFrom where I sat, with the intelligence laid out, I can tell you that none of these agencies have any control over any of it. It is more prevalent and consequential than any of them are willing to admit,xe2x80x9d Moore said.

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xe2x80x9cIf you want to know why people donxe2x80x99t trust the police, itxe2x80x99s because they have a relative or a friend that they witnessed being targeted by extremist who happened to have a badge and a gun,xe2x80x9d Moore continued.

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xe2x80x9cI know for a fact that this has occurred,xe2x80x9d Moore added. xe2x80x9cI stopped a murder plot [involving] law enforcement officers.xe2x80x9d

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Reading about Black trauma can have an impact on your mental health. If you or someone you know need immediate mental health help, text xe2x80x9cSTRENGTHxe2x80x9d to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. These additional resources are also available:xc2xa0

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The National Suicide Prevention Lifelinexc2xa01-800-273-8255

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The National Alliance on Mental Illnessxc2xa01-800-950-6264

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The Association of Black Psychologistsxc2xa01-301-449-3082

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The Anxiety and Depression Association of Americaxc2xa01-240-485-1001

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For morexc2xa0mental health resources, click HERE.xc2xa0

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