Former neo-Nazi leader addresses CSI students

Frank Meeink, whose life inspired a 1998 film, attends a lecture on hatred and love at the Willowbrook college

Staten Island Advance - April 1, 2005

A former neo-Nazi leader tried to recruit students into a life of respect and tolerance at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook yesterday.

At a lecture organized by the CSI chapters of New York Public Interest Research Group and Hillel, and the college’s program development committee, Frank Meeink told the audience his life story, which inspired the acclaimed 1998 film “American History X,” to illustrate how easy it was for an alienated teen to succumb to hatred and violence.

“I was a shaken-up soda bottle, just waiting to be opened,” Meeink said. “It was a matter of who directed which way the explosion flowed.”

Born in racially diverse South Philadelphia, Meeink became a skinhead at 13 after spending a summer with his aunt in Lancaster, Pa. — to avoid his abusive stepfather. Meeink was seamlessly indoctrinated by an older cousin and his group of skinhead friends, who through beer, hoots and piggyback moshing gave him his first sense of belonging.

He returned to South Philiy with their protection, seeking revenge against the people who picked on him and recruiting more troubled teens in the process.

Meeink’s “missions” of violence against homosexuals, people of color and a rival anti-racist skinhead gang soon attracted media attention, which Meeink said only brought in more recruits.

“Local media love us,” he said. “We sell newspapers.”

Meeink soon was invited to attend Bible studies Ku Klux Klan-style, where he heard biblical interpretations such as how Eve’s temptation begat the Jewish race.

“Any religious hook can either teach love or hate,” Meeink said. “But we were given a conscience, and we have to use it.”

After being imprisoned for aggravated assault and kidnapping, being invited to Bible studies by a group of African-American inmates who befriended him was partly responsible for his change of heart.

Meeink said he finally gave up neo-Nazism after leaving prison, when he found that the only person who would take a chance on hiring someone with prison tattoos and a swastika etched on the back of his neck was a Jewish dealer in antiques.

“It was easy to hate Jews because I never met any,” Meeink said. “Like it’s easy to say you hate Monopoly because you’ve never played.”

Meeink, who is now a married stay-at-home dad, said his experience taught him one simple truth.

“What goes around comes around,” Meeink said. “Hatred always comes back to you, but so does love.”

By Ben Eben Newhouse
Reprinted here with permission from the