Christian Picciolini appears on “Chicago Tonight” via Zoom on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (WTTW News)

Since 2017, the number of white nationalist hate groups has increased by 55%, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. What’s behind the resurgence? We ask a former skinhead.

(Courtesy of Christian Picciolini)

Christian Picciolini talks about his life within the white supremacist movement and his subsequent efforts to combat racism, as told in his new book “White American Youth.”

(Mark Dixon / Flickr)

A group cited for its efforts to thwart white supremacists has plans to counter Islamist extremists. But after the Trump administration revoked a $400,000 grant to Life After Hate, those plans may be on hold.

“Until the government starts to call it what it is – and that’s terrorism – I’m not sure the point will fully come across as to how dangerous of a problem this is,” said Christian Picciolini, a former neo-Nazi, of far-right extremism.

The rise of far right wing groups in Europe and the United States: What's fueling their popularity?

Former Skinhead Leader Reflects on Personal Transformation

Christian Picciolini was once a neo-Nazi skinhead leader in Chicago. Today he runs an organization called Life After Hate. Jay Shefsky tells the story of Picciolini's remarkable transformation.