Arno Michaelis

Arno Michaelis (born 1970 or 1971) is an American author, activist and former neo-Nazi. He has written two books and in 2011 co-founded Life After Hate, an advocacy group, with the group's goal being to "build a safer society by making it possible for people to break free from lives of violent hate and extremism through evidence-based interventions.”

Early life Michaelis grew up in an "alcoholic, emotionally cold household" in Mequon, Wisconsin, and became a bully at school. He began "drinking profusely" at age 14, and became involved with neo-Nazi ideology and music at age 16. He dropped out of high school and went on to front Centurion, Although Michaelis had doubts about the community, he found it difficult to consider leaving.

In 2011, he co-founded Life After Hate, although by 2017 he was no longer involved with the group.

Michaelis co-founded the community group Serve2Unite with Pardeep Kaleka, whose father was killed in the Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting in 2012.

Michaelis has worked with organizations such as Parents For Peace.

Personal life Michaelis is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Raised in a non-religious family, he was a practicing Buddhist by 2017.