Frank Meeinks, a recovering skinhead, came to UW-La Crosse on Nov. 18. Meeinks shared his personal story of becoming involved in the white racist movement and how much it affected his life.
His talk was nearing the end when Meeinks stated, “The truth, empathy, true empathy changes human beings and everything in the world.”
This is what changed him.
Meeinks realized on his way home with his boss, who is Jewish, that he was embarrassed of his beliefs. Meeinks did not know why he should believe in the white racist movement anymore. He began his own movement of becoming uninvolved, but he soon learned how difficult that can be.
When The Oklahoma City bombing happened, Meeinks said, “I hated seeing a little girl dead in a firefighters arms getting carried away.”
Meeinks thought that he could have been in the bombers’ place because that is how much he hated himself; he was just a horrible person that could have done the same thing. Meeinks used his sadness about what happened during the Oklahoma City bombing in a positive way and went straight to the FBI to tell his story.
The FBI agent that he talked to asked him to talk to fourth graders at a school. Meeinks sat in a little chair and told his stories of violence and hatred to the fourth graders. He said he cried while doing so. Meeinks said he felt like that was the worst thing to do to those innocent fourth graders. Weeks later, however, he was called to the agent’s office and handed an envelope from the school. Inside were written “Thank You” cards to Meeinks for his speech.
“I could not believe myself. I really thought that I had ruined those fourth graders,” stated Meeinks.
Meeinks began to talk to juvenile programs, colleges and high schools. He started Harmony through Hockey, which he runs on his own and also coaches the kids. Meeinks said that it is one of the most rewarding programs he has ever done.
Meeinks’ influencer into the white racist movement was his cousin. At the time, he was 14, and his cousin 16. The last time he had visited his cousin, he was a “punk rocker type dude,” but when he walked into the house that day, he saw a Nazi lover with tons of tattoos and a love of beer.
That was where it all began for Meeinks. There was no initiation, he was just in because his cousins’ people liked him.
Meeinks was in and out of juvenile detention and caused a lot of violence. Meeinks went to prison for attempting a kidnap. While in prison, his daughter was born, and all he wanted to know was what she looked like. After serving his time in prison, he wanted to meet her, but the mom would not let him because of what Meeinks was involved in. He agreed with her.
“I’m not much, but I am all I think about. I was rotten to the core,” stated Meeinks.
Meeinks had a tough life, and now he is working towards becoming the man that always had the strength with in him.