A True Story of Redemption.

Skinhead's Story of Redemption, With Help from SPLC, to be Told in MSNBC Documentary

06/22/2011 - For years, Bryon Widner thrived on hate as a violent skinhead – a razor-carrying "enforcer" who helped organize other racist gangs around the country. His hate was literally etched on his face in the form of tattoos with racist and violent themes.

But with the help of the Southern Poverty Law Center – the nation's leading monitor of hate and extremist activity – Widner left the white power movement and endured nearly two years of excruciating laser treatments to remove the tell-tale tattoos so that he could start a new life with his wife and children.

On Sunday night, his story will be told in "Erasing Hate," which airs at 9 p.m. EDT on MSNBC. The one-hour documentary recounts Widner's life within the white power movement, the decision that led him and his wife to leave it, and the procedures he received.

"This is a powerful story of human redemption," said Joe Roy, the SPLC's chief investigator, whose meeting with Widner led to the removal of his tattoos and, ultimately, the documentary. "Bryon, by his own admission, did horrible things in his life. But he made the decision to reject racism and leave behind his life of hate and violence. We see so many people in our work who have gotten caught up in the hate movement, usually when they're young. What we hope is that Bryon's story will inspire others to change." {Read More}