From Hatred to Healing

At this year’s Equal Opportunity Day, hosted by the Indianapolis Urban League on June 25, keynote speaker Christian Picciolini delivered a deeply moving and personal address that struck a chord with everyone in attendance. A peace advocate, author, and former white supremacist, Picciolini recounted his powerful journey from being a teenage skinhead to becoming a national voice for healing and the fight against hate.

Hosted annually by the Indianapolis Urban League, Equal Opportunity Day uplifts voices that challenge injustice and inspire community transformation. Under the leadership of Anthony R. Mason, the organization continues its legacy of advancing equity, opportunity, and healing in Central Indiana. The Indianapolis Foundation was among the key sponsors of the fund-raising event.

“I wasn’t raised racist,” Picciolini told the audience gathered at the Indiana Convention Center. “In fact, it was quite the opposite.” Raised by Italian immigrant parents in Chicago, he spoke of a childhood filled with love but also marked by emotional neglect as his parents worked long hours to build a better life. It was in this emotional void—what he calls the “potholes” of life—that extremism found fertile ground.

At just 14, Picciolini was recruited by the founder of America’s first neo-Nazi skinhead group — the Chicago Area SkinHeads (CASH), drawn in not by ideology but by the lure of identity, community, and purpose. “He didn’t start by telling me hateful ideas. He asked my name. He made me feel seen.”

For eight years, Picciolini became a rising figure in the white supremacist movement, at times leading a hate-filled band designed to spread propaganda and recruit others. “But even during those years, I had doubts. I knew something inside me didn’t fit,” he said.

The turning point came not through confrontation, but through connection. Falling in love and becoming a father challenged his allegiance to hate. Though he initially chose the movement over his young family—ultimately leading to divorce and loss—those moments planted the seeds for change.

Leaving the movement in 1996, Picciolini endured years of depression and identity loss. It wasn’t until he crossed paths again with Johnny Holmes, a Black school security guard in Blue Island, Ill., he once disrespected, that transformation truly took hold.

“I was terrified to face him. But he looked me in the eye and said, ‘I’m glad you’re sorry. But that doesn’t do anything for me. You’ve got to repair the harm you caused.’ And then… he hugged me.”

That moment of grace was life-altering. “Mr. Holmes saved my life,” Picciolini said. “He showed me what accountability and compassion can do.”

In the 26 years since, Picciolini has dedicated himself to helping others leave hate behind—supporting nearly 800 people in disengaging from extremist movements. His approach is not to shame or attack but to offer empathy and a path toward accountability and healing.

“There are no happy terrorists,” he told the crowd. “Hate is a symptom of pain, of not feeling seen. But it can be unlearned.”

As he reflected on today’s landscape—where extremism is more normalized and publicly displayed—Picciolini didn’t hold back. “The white robe has been replaced by the three-piece suit. They sit in boardrooms, legislatures, even classrooms. But so do we—and there are more good people willing to stand up.”

He issued a challenge to the audience: “Empathy and compassion must be our tools. It’s not the responsibility of the most marginalized to fix hate—but organizations like the Urban League are where bridges are built, where healing begins.”

In closing, he offered a message of hope: “Change is possible. Not easy, not quick—but absolutely possible. And when we choose love, there are no casualties.”

Moving Forward in Today’s Climate

Rabbi Aaron Spiegel, the executive director and president of the Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance, Inc., also gave remarks during his invocation. 

While addressing the 1,000 attendees, Spiegel delivered a pointed reflection on the state of our society, warning that racism has found a climate in which it can thrive. He criticized efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives and the targeting of immigrant neighbors—who collectively contribute $4.1 million in Indiana taxes—as dangerous and dehumanizing. 

Spiegel also called out the deafening silence of community leaders in the face of these injustices and urged all people to recognize the divinity in others, especially those who may not look like them. He challenged the moral priorities of our society, noting, “It is unconscionable that we can spend $45 million on a stadium, but can’t find even 5 percent of that to end homelessness.” 

In addition to the keynote address, the Indianapolis Urban League recognized the achievements of local students and community members through scholarships and awards. Honorees included participants in the IUL’s Project Ready and Workforce Development programs, who were celebrated for their dedication, growth, and leadership.