White supremacist found faith, left hate behind

Our take: Chris Simpson was once a white supremacist who led white pride marches and spent years building up a hatred for non-white races because of a personal pain he held onto stemming from the death of his daughter. The tattoos on his body, while evidence of the hatred he once harbored, are now in conflict with the peace he has in his heart. After watching the movie "Courageous," Simpson was prompted to attend church and realized he didn't want his children to follow in his path of anger and hatred. He gave his life to Christ and got baptized, publicly declaring that his life of hate was behind him and is removing the tattoos that once broadcast a message he no longer believes in.

Two years ago, Chris Simpson led a white pride march.

Six months ago, he abandoned the white supremacy movement.

On April 15, he was baptized.

Five days later, Simpson sat in the waiting room of a skin and vein clinic, waiting to start the long and painful process of having his tattoos, most replete with Nazi or white pride iconography, removed.

Hate will blind you to so many things. It will stop you from having so many things, Simpson said. It consumes you.

Simpson, a 38-year-old garbageman and former Marine, said he has given up on hate. It is a decision he made for his family, for his wife Misty and his children, 9-year-old Cody, 7-year-old Kayleigh, 5-year-old Nikolaus and the 2-year-old twins, Tyrsson and Aeric.

Read more about Simpson's conversion on The Washington Post.