Former neo-Nazi skinhead talks to the man who helped turn his life around | StoryCorps

In the 1990s, Johnny Holmes was head of security at a high school in Blue Island, Illinois, located just outside of Chicago, where he met Christian Picciolini, a teenage student who was the leader of a local neo-Nazi group.

Christian was involved for eight years before he renounced the movement’s racist principles. Today, he devotes himself to helping others leave hate groups.

He credits Johnny with being the person who helped turn him around; they came to StoryCorps to remember how it happened.

Christian founded EXIT Solutions, a global organization of former extremists with a mission to help people to leave hateful and violent ideologies.

Johnny now serves on his local school board.

Editor’s note: This story contains a quote where a racial slur is used.

Music By: ”YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE” BY ALAN SINGLEY (https://alansingley.bandcamp.com/) FROM THE ALBUM COLD TRUTH.

Audio Card by Amanda Meltzer