The Sandspur

Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: News

Media Credit: STRHATETALK.COM TJ LEYDEN: This is TJ Leyden at 15, shortly after he became a Neo-Nazi skinhead.

Media Credit: STRHATETALK.COM HATE FILLED TATTOOS: TJ´s body was covered in tattoos supporting racism and the Nazis.

He gave fifteen years of his life to an organization that promoted hatred, separatism, racism, and all of the underlying ideals of neo-Nazism. As an activist and recruiter, Tom "TJ" Leyden helped to degrade and hurt many of the people outside of the perfect Aryan race for which the Nazi group considered themselves soldiers.

This past Monday, November 15, TJ came to speak to the students of Rollins College in Dave's Downunder from 6:30 to nearly 9 p.m. He explained the hate movement as seen from the personal perspective of a former neo-Nazi. It was educationally invigorating to say the least. Students clung to his every word as he explained the theories and beliefs to which he once clung.

"I enlisted in the Marine Corps," TJ said. "The military has a code that says you can belong to a hate group as long as you are passive. As long as I wasn't getting into any trouble they considered that passive...I showed my racism openly in the Marine Corps. I found some allies in higher ranks, as well, and that included the officers. I had a Nazi battle flag hanging in my wall locker; I read and passed out racist literature (ie: Mein Kampf and The Turner Diaries). I had noticeable racist tattoos and sported my racist's attire when not in uniform."

According to TJ, many soldiers in the skinhead movement enlist in a branch of the armed forces in order to be trained for when the day comes to make their "revolution." TJ not only recruited but also took part in many acts of brutality against his fellow man, a fact of which he is not proud.

So, what was it that made him change his mind after fifteen full-fledged years as a proud Nazi activist? "It took a good 18 months to fully decide I was out of there! I decided to leave because I was questioning my own beliefs and values. I think I finally grew up and realized this cause I was living for was a farce. Once I did, I was sure! I asked my, now, ex-wife to go with me, and she refused. That was it for me. I packed up my belongings and left Idaho for California, back to my real family," he answered.

Now he works with the FBI, Pentagon, law enforcement, military, and educators across the United States. He hopes to spread a message, not of hate, but of tolerance. He gave all of his neo-Nazi propaganda and paraphernalia to be looked at and put on display for all to see. He now travels the country to military bases, colleges, and secondary schools to tell his story. If you have any more questions you can get more information from his website, www.strHATEtalk.com. He can also be reached by e-mail at formerskinhead@aol.com and by instant messenger at the same name. This program was a part of the Week of Difference awareness week put on from November 15-19.

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