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			The Making Of A Skinhead
	Understanding Hate     How Hate Stalks The Vulnerable     Wanda Mitchum Interview     Why Burn Churches?   The Making of A Skinhead     Web of Hate   Responding To Hate     Heroes Against Hate     Resources for Responding     Fighting Hate     National Response		Photo: Simon Wiesenthal Center Thomas James (TJ) Leyden is a self-proclaimed former skinhead and a fifteen year member of the neo-Nazi, White Supremacy Movement. Due to his recent and profound change of heart, Leyden abandoned the skinhead movement in an effort to redeem himself from the violence and hatred of his former lifestyle. In an unprecedented chain of events, Lyden decided to contact the Simon Wiesenthal Center with his story. "When I was 15 years old, my parents divorced," said Lyden. This left me angry, lonely and most important, vulnerable. On weekends, I would escape the shouting in my home by running off to concerts where I could vent my rage by slam-dancing and fighting.... I now realize that I was the perfect target for neo-Nazi recruitment. Members of the white supremacy movement look for young, angry kids who need a family. I thought these were good guys, that I was being patriotic." Read the full interview.

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