Leaving Violence Behind: The Journey from Extremism to Peace

Update: We were grieved to hear that a few days after this interview, Jesse Morton passed away. Jesse was a friend of Peace Catalyst and an ally in our peacemaking work. He was doing ground-breaking work challenging the assumptions we make about others and tirelessly working to bring people together. This was the last time he ever told his story, and we are blessed to have captured an overview of his experiences and some of his latest insights during this conversation. Jesse was talented, imperfect, inspiring, and brilliant, and we extend our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Jesse's passion and creativity will be greatly missed.

On December 17th we were joined by two former violent extremists, Jesse Morton and Ryan Lo’Ree, to hear about their journeys of de-radicalization and how they are now working to build peace. They each told their personal stories and then discussed how they are using trauma-informed approaches to help bring others out of radicalized groups. They also discussed the current state of polarization in our country and how we can all build peace and help prevent radicalization and violence.

Watch the video of this conversation above or on our YouTube channel.

JESSE MORTON is the CEO and Founder of Parallel Networks, a non-profit dedicated to combating hate and extremism. Jesse was once a prominent radicalizer in the West, helping to insert the narrative of Al-Qaeda and Salafi-jihadist ideology into the American ambit. Today, he works to transform ideologies of violence into ones of peace, using trauma-informed approaches to help people coming out of radicalization.

RYAN LO'REE is an Interventionist and Program Specialist at Light Upon Light, a space dedicated to combating polarization, hate, and extremism. Ryan was formerly part of a neo-Nazi group in Michigan, where he recruited others using Nazi hate propaganda. Today, he uses martial arts and mentorship to help transform youths' lives who are on the path to violence. He is also a civil rights activist, working to transform institutional racism, economic barriers, and fighting for clean water in his hometown of Flint, MI.