La Roche University to Host Day of Justice Program Featuring Documentary “The Cure for Hate”

PITTSBURGH, March 6, 2026 – La Roche University’s Ketteler Center for Peace, Justice & Inclusion, in partnership with Classrooms Without Borders (CWB), will host a special Day of Justice program titled “A Former White Supremacist’s Journey from Violent Extremism to Radical Compassion” on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Ryan Room of the Zappala Campus Center.

The event will feature a screening of the documentary The Cure for Hate, which chronicles the life of Tony McAleer, a former Neo-Nazi leader who transformed his life to become an advocate for peace and anti-hate initiatives. The film documents McAleer’s journey from violent extremism to radical compassion, including his pilgrimage to Auschwitz as an act of atonement, and examines the psychological pathways that lead individuals into—and out of—extremist movements.

Following the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking discussion and Q&A session with Tony McAleer and Peter Hutchison, the film’s producer. The conversation will explore the roots of extremism, the power of personal transformation, and the role individuals and communities can play in fostering greater understanding and resilience in the face of hate.

Through this collaborative program, the Ketteler Center and Classrooms Without Borders aim to foster meaningful dialogue about justice, reconciliation, and the possibility of change. The Day of Justice event reflects La Roche University’s mission-centered commitment to social responsibility, inclusion, and the promotion of human dignity.

“This film challenges us to confront difficult truths about hatred, identity, and belonging,” said Dr. Paul Spradley of the Ketteler Center for Peace, Justice & Inclusion. “By bringing both Tony McAleer and the film’s producer to campus, we are creating a powerful opportunity for direct engagement and reflection. Conversations like these are essential to helping our community better understand the dynamics of extremism and the transformative potential of compassion and accountability.”

The program is free and open to students, faculty, staff, educators, and members of the broader community.

For more information, please contact Dr. Paul Spradley at 412-536-1170 or paul.spradley@laroche.edu.

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, opportunity number DHS-24-TTP-132-00-99.

About La Roche University: An independent liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 71 undergraduate programs of study, eight master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, cybersecurity and forensics, psychology, nursing, and health and medical sciences as well as interior architecture & design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for women and men enjoying multiple student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.

About Classrooms Without Borders: Founded in 2011 by Dr. Zipora Gur in association with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Classrooms Without Borders (CWB) is a premier provider of experiential, extended-term professional development for teachers and educational leaders. CWB offers immersive study seminars that integrate academic scholarship with travel-based learning experiences in historically significant locations such as Israel, Poland, Germany, Greece, and the American South. Since its inception, the organization has supported more than 2,586 teachers and impacted over 221,000 students across 215 schools, primarily serving educators in Southwestern Pennsylvania and surrounding regions. Its model emphasizes in-depth study, professional collaboration, and practical classroom application, strengthening both historical understanding and civic engagement.

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