T.J. Leyden, 'Turning Away from Hate'

Student Union Theatre

Tuesday, February 5 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Sponsored by: The Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy Research, Summit College, and the Institute for Teaching and Learning. 

WHEN YOU LOOK around our country today, there are a lot of things that individuals notice. Turn on the television in the past months and there are negative advertisements related to politics.  Listen to the news and you see or hear negativity regarding people of different races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and even political parties.  A lot of this is more than not liking an individual or group, but actually perpetuating hate. 

TJ Leyden became a Skinhead at the age of 14 and then spent 15 years of his life as an organizer, recruiter, and one who would promote hate, bigotry, and racism for the Neo-Nazi and White Supremacist movements. He has turned away from these beliefs and now fights against hate, bigotry, intolerance, bullying, and discrimination through education. 

This keynote address will give your students the opportunity to hear from someone who actually lived this lifestyle and changed the direction of his life.  He has written a book titled "Skinhead Confessions, From Hate to Hope." A few lines on the cover state “A background in hate.  A life of violence.  A love for power.  But all he needed was a moment of truth.”  These words give you and your students an idea of the content of his talk. 

One of the sources to be utilized is his book: 

Leyden, T.J. and Cook, M.B. (2007). Skinhead Confessions, From Hate to Hope. Springville, UT: CFI.