Leonard Zeskind

Leonard Zeskind’s life was commemorated on weekend of November 9 and 10, 2025.  In addition to a “celebration of life,” there was a conference/teach-in held to learn from the researchers and experts who worked with Leonard across his life.  Events featured not only reflections on what has worked in the past to disrupt white nationalism’s march from the margins to the mainstream, but also research on the state of white nationalism in the current period.  In the spirit of Leonard’s motto: “Fighting fascism can be fun,” we gathered to strengthen our resolve to build community, face the fear together, and yes, have fun now – and for the long road ahead to becoming a true multiracial democracy that champions human rights and dignity.

Below are quotes, tributes and video links from the weekend.  Watch for more soon.

I need to share with you that IREHR’s founder, Leonard Zeskind, has passed away. Many of you knew Leonard personally. He was a righteous intellectual/organizer, a role model and mentor, and an anti-fascist way before it was cool. Many of us, including me, were forever changed by our time with him.

–Devin Burghart, executive director, Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights

What mattered to him was helping workers, community members, young people and all decent people understand the threats posed by this movement, and the importance of standing up to turn back its attack on human decency. His years working on auto assembly lines and defending workers were his training ground – teaching him that an injury to one really is an injury to all. I will carry his love, wisdom and commitment to making a better world with me for the rest of my days. Remembering Leonard Zeskind

–Chuck Tanner, research director, Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights

Lenny was a master writer and interpreter of the times. Blood and Politics should have been a New York Times bestseller. It is not too late for people who would like to get a beneath the surface understanding of some of the socio-political issues we will be dealing with for several more decades. We need Lenny; and if Lenny can’t be with us, we need someone who studied, understood and can articulate the great work that Lenny did.  We need people like that now…. now more than ever.”

–U.S. Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, II

On this day, we memorialize our friend, teacher and sage, Leonard Zeskind. We gather to remember, not to bury, but to recommit in our own perilous times to the justice vision which Lenny committed his precious life. Deuteronomy 16:20 famously demands, “justice, justice shall you pursue.” The Bible demands justice to be the work of our hands, not simply the articulation of our lips. Len dedicated his life to this ideal of justice. A clear-eyed prophet lived among us, and like the prophets of the Bible, too many of us failed to pay attention and act.

–Rabbi Mark H. Levin, DHL

Most of us know Leonard Zeskind as an internationally recognized expert on white nationalist movements, a historian, writer, a gifted speaker, the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship genius grant, an archivist, a visionary, a storyteller, a mensch, and truth be told, an occasional pain in the ass … in a good way.   With Lenny, there were no borders to his creativity and curiosity.  He loved poetry and poets; he lived the spirit of the beats — restless, searching, unwilling to accept the world as it was. Lenny was a philosopher-poet. He read philosophy for pleasure. If you ever had a question about existentialism, stoicism, phenomenology, Kant, Heidegger or any other philosophical ism, he could explain the differences and the nuances. He was clearly concerned about how to make meaning in an absurd world. I first met Lenny in 1968 – we kept in touch. We loved each other. He was Uncle Lenny to my daughter Leah – and always will be.

–Bill Berkowitz, investigative journalist and co-founder of Data Center/Culture Watch

I bring greetings from the Searchlight family across the pond in the U.K.  Lenny first saw an issue of Searchlight Magazine in the early 1980’s.  He told us: “I thought it was phenomenal. There was nothing like in the U.S. It was its investigations, that that it knew so much about the other side. I knew this was the way we had to go.” So when Lenny launched his stateside magazine The Hammer in 1982, it was directly modeled on Searchlight…. We cannot thank Lenny enough for all he did for Searchlight Magazine over the years.  He will be remembered as a giant of the anti-fascist movement both in the States and internationally, and especially here in the U.K.  His ongoing collaboration with Searchlight was one of the jewels in our crown, and we will forever remember and venerate him as a true antifascist hero. Salud, Lenny.

–Andy Bell, representative of Searchlight, a UK publication on fascism, antisemitism and racism in Britain & Europe

I want to offer these words of appreciation for the life of Leonard Zeskind, truly one of the great figures in Civil Rights and a prophet before his time in understanding the grip of white nationalism in our country today.  Lenny helped me personally to understand what was happening – not only in the U.S., but in Europe. Lenny was a remarkable human being and a prophet. I have enormous respect for him and will miss him greatly.

–John Shattuck, international legal scholar and former president of Central European University, 6^th Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, and former U.S. ambassador, Czech Republic

What I was expected was not the man I met. The man I was expecting was larger than life, a master of wielding research & intelligence against some of the most dangerous humans of the 20th century. Who I met was a kind and gentle person who took a genuine interest in who and how I was. That became a consistent thread over the next 35 years. For me, his gift is family. A Canadian Antifascist Remembers Leonard Zeskind

–Anonymous Canadian, memories of Leonard Zeskind

Lenny Zeskind kindly taught me the joy and fulfillment that come from working for human rights. Lenny changed the entire trajectory of my life as he had done for hundreds (if not thousands) of others. His brilliance, commitment, and passion for justice are sorely missed but never forgotten.

–Loretta J. Ross, Associate Professor, Smith College; former Program Director, Center for Democratic Renewal

I was struck by this quote from Lenny: “We live in a new historical era. The post-World War II glow of victory in the fight against fascism is gone. The lessons we’ve learned as a society from the defeat of Hitlerism are in danger of being unlearned.”  It will be so much harder to continue the fight without him, but it’s the best tribute we can pay. Remembering Lenny

–Rick Hellman, tribute written for Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

I remember meeting Lenny for the first time many years ago.  He was not only good looking and charming, but my husband and I were floored by his extraordinary integrity – working in factories because he thought it impossible to organize workers unless he understood how they worked. We all lost a man of enormous integrity and influence. The world is the worst for it, but we are all better for having known and loved him.

 — Gloria Levitas

As we mourn this monumental loss, we can honor Lenny’s memory by taking white nationalism seriously, and by giving our all – just as Lenny did – to RESISTING with sound strategy, with deep solidarity and with all of our conviction and might.

–Staff Team, Heartland Center for Jobs & Freedom

Lenny was a friend, a thought leader, a public speaker and a long-time ally to workers in Stand Up KC. To know Lenny was to be in conversation about the central role that racism and organized white nationalism plays in preventing us from achieving an America and an economy that works for us all.

–Daniel Tucker, Stand Up KC & Missouri Workers Center

Lenny was kicking around Montana before it was cool. Of course, he wasn’t here for the views. He changed a lot about how many of us understood politics and history.

–Ken Toole, former Montana State Senator, co-founder, Montana Human Rights Network

Lenny’s unique ability to organize and inspire, coupled with his brilliance made him not only an unyielding force for good, but someone who could attract likeminded highest achievers to our cause as he did with CDR and IREHR. He will be sorely missed at a time his insight is needed the most.

–Brian Levin, professor emeritus and founder, Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, Cal State San Bernadino

Leonard lived with uncommon principle. He spoke when it mattered, acted when it counted and never wavered from what he knew to be right. His presence had gravitas – not because he demanded it, but because he earned it.  His integrity, intellect and relentless commitment to justice left a mark on all of us.”

–Beth Gottstein Thompson, former Kansas City Councilwoman

I was extremely fortunate to work with Lenny some years back on a case brought by neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers.  Lenny was able to educate people and shed light on those who longed to lurk in the darkness. When I was young, my father used to say: “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” Lenny truly embodied that ethos and we were blessed by his spirit.

–Michael D. Sullivan, Ballard Spare LLP, Washington D.C.

Leonard was a giant of a man. We are grateful for all the things Lenny has been bringing us over the years. The world has lost a legend, but I hope he knows he can trust us – now more than ever – to continue the fight.  May we all make Lenny proud.

–Staff Team, Missouri Rural Crisis Center

As everyone tries to figure out how to take the next step – and the ones after that – without Lenny’s wise counsel, I wish you peace, Carol, knowing how much you meant to each other, and how much together, you have made a difference in the world.

—Melinda Lewis, professor, University of Kansas, School of Social Work

I was shocked to see of Lenny’s death – (it is) always hard to let go of even the idea that “our GREATS” will leave us. I hope that Lenny and Pope Francis are having a conversation about now, and letting go of their worries about the human family.

–Sister Therese Bangert, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas

Leonard Zeskind tried to warn the leadership of the Heritage Foundation. He tried to warn everyone. If left unchecked, he counseled, the hatred of white nationalists, paramilitary groups and antisemites would slither its way into mainstream politics. Zeskind was memorialized on Nov. 9 at a synagogue near his longtime home of Kansas City. His life’s work was honored with a symposium to discuss the rise of white nationalism, the threat it poses to democracy, and what can be done about it. Researchers flew and drove from around the nation to attend. Many of the attendees have been instrumental in the decades-long work to chronicle these extremist movements, from the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan to neo-Nazis, Christian patriot groups, insurrectionists and those more familiar to the public, such as the Proud Boys. Zeskind was a stalwart among them, a reporter’s go-to expert on domestic and global extremism. [Commentary]

 –Mary Sanchez, veteran Kansas City area journalist and commentator

Across our years together, Lenny was a magnet that attracted bright, creative people into our lives – people committed to human rights and dignity – from young people in their teens and twenties to the titans of the Civil Rights movement in their 70’s 80’s and 90’s. The Rev. C.T. Vivian, one of Dr. Martin Luther King’s inner circle, was a pillar in both our lives from 1984 until his passing in 2020.  It was one of my life’s great joys to make C.T. his favorite pie – lemon meringue.  I invite you to read Lenny’s loving tribute to C.T. on IREHR website. I will close now so you can hear others who have their own amazing Lenny stories to tell.  And for every person on the bema today, there are others in the sanctuary, and many more who could not be with us with their own Lenny Zeskind memories.  At the end of the formal program, I hope you will stay for fellowship, food and more stories.  Lenny, it has been my honor and joy to share your amazing life journey with you.

–Carol Smith, Leonard’s partner