Father of White Nationalist: ‘He Did Not Learn His Beliefs at Home’

Father of white nationalist who attended the Charlottesville riots writes an open letter condemning his son's actions.

By Nancy Flory Published on August 14, 2017

The father of a white nationalist featured in news stories during Saturday’s protests in Charlottesville had written an open letter denouncing his son. 

Peter Tefft of Fargo. N.D. was interviewed while marching with white nationalists. His father Pearce Tefft responded with a letter published at Inforumsaying that he and his family “loudly repudiate” Peter’s “vile, hateful and racist rhetoric and actions.” “We do not know where he learned these beliefs. He did not learn them at home.” He went on to say that: 

I have shared my home and hearth with friends and acquaintances of every race, gender and creed. I have taught all of my children that all men and women are created equal. That we must love each other all the same.

Evidently Peter has chosen to unlearn these lessons, much to my and his family’s heartbreak and distress. We have been silent up until now, but now we see that this was a mistake. It was the silence of good people that allowed the Nazis to flourish the first time around, and it is the silence of good people that is allowing them to flourish now.

Tefft added that his son is no longer allowed at family gatherings. “I pray my prodigal son will renounce his hateful beliefs and return home. Then and only then will I lay out the feast.”

Tefft’s other children and family members have been the target of hateful rhetoric because of Peter’s beliefs and actions. “Why must we be guilty by association? Again, none of his beliefs were learned at home. We do not, never have, and never will, accept his twisted worldview.”

Peter Tefft once remarked, “The thing about us fascists is, it’s not that we don’t believe in freedom of speech. You can say whatever you want. We’ll just throw you in an oven.”

Tefft said that Peter will have to shovel their bodies into the oven, too. “Please son,” he wrote, “renounce the hate, accept and love all.”

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