University News
Reformed Neo-Nazi Activist To Speak About the Culture and Nature of Hate
October 20, 2005
MACOMB, IL - - Tom “TJ” Leyden will present the program “Turning Away From Hate” to students, faculty and residents of Western Illinois University and Macomb at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 in the University Union Grand Ballroom. The event is open free to the public.
A reformed neo-Nazi activist, Leyden will speak about the culture and nature of hate that he once thrived upon, and what it took to change his life.
At the age of 15, LeydenÂ’s life took an unfortunate turn when his parents divorced and he turned to punk rock and a violent skinhead culture to vent his anger. Fifteen years later, he had become one of the most successful organizers in the white supremacist movement. Truly and hatefully dedicated, he even hung a Nazi flag over the crib of his newborn son.
It took the stark realization of hearing and seeing his three-year-old son mocking his racist words and gestures for Leyden to make the decision to desert the white supremacist culture and search for a better life for himself and his sons.
This search led him to the California home of his mother and eventually to a job at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, where he acted as an anti-hate activist and educator. At first skeptical, the Wiesenthal Center staff spent many hours with Leyden, eventually recognizing his sincerity.
“I got the impression that this was a person who had a profound change of heart and was willing to tell the world ‘I was wrong,’” said Rabbi Marvin Heir. “He was saying, ‘Everything I’ve stood for in the last decade was for nothing.’ That’s admitting to a life’s mistake,” he added.
The then 30-year-old ex-Marine became an educator, speaking at more than 100 high schools and various military groups, including the Pentagon. He also presented at Hate Crimes Summits and spoke to the FBI. To date, Leyden is the only former skinhead actively working to fight against the groups that once nurtured him.
White supremacist organizations frequently target him with death threats, and many of their websites have issued a “kill on sight” order against him. However, this fear is easier to deal with than the fear that his children will grow up haters, according to Leyden.
“I wasted a lot of time,” Leyden said. “It’s time for me to do something with my life. I would like to go to college and become a teacher. College students are activists. They can make a difference. I know that my story can have an impact with that group.”
LeydenÂ’s presentation is straight talk, and itÂ’s not always pleasant. He speaks about the brutality with which he used to beat people simply because of their race. He describes how he and his friends would rob and harass homosexuals and Latinos just for sport.
He shows the 29 tattoos of swastikas and Nazi SS officers that cover the majority of his body, and he shares the recruiting methods of the neo-Nazis.
“We all need to be aware of the culture of hate that exists -- otherwise we are powerless to fight against the violence and insanity that they breed,” Leyden said. “As a recruiter, I figure I drafted at least 80 haters into the movement. So now my goal is to turn at least a million students the other way.”
LeydenÂ’s presentation is sponsored by Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, the Office of Student Activities, the Visiting LecturerÂ’s Committee and the Council on Student Activities Funds. For more information, contact the Office of Student Activities at 309/298-3232.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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