DALLAS – Ben Kusin isn't very happy with white nationalist Richard Spencer and his increasing notoriety. And neither are a growing number of his former classmates from St. Marks School of Texas.

"This issue hits deep, not just for me, but for everyone,” said Kusin CEO of Reviver and former Shark Tank Contestant.

Spencer made national headlines last week, after a widely circulated video showed him praising Hitler, and, president-elect Donald Trump, while others raised Nazi salutes.

For some St. Mark's grads like Ben Kusin, who graduated with Spencer in 1997, that was the last straw. To counter the hate speech, an online petition was created by an unknown classmate.

The class of 1997 had only 68 students, including Spencer. They may not have known each other’s deepest secrets, but they knew of each other.

"These are some dark times, we've heard a lot of hateful rhetoric from a lot of different people and I think now it's more important than ever that we all come together and unify,” Kusin said. “When you see something like this you have to say something."

Spencer – known for coining the term "alt-right"— is president of the think tank National Policy Institute, which, according to its website, advocates for "the heritage and identity of those of European descent in the United States."

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups and extremists, describes Spencer as “a suit-and-tie version of the white supremacists of old, a kind of professional racist in khakis”

"There's been a lot of light shed on his philosophies, and he, a very small man, has been given a large and dangerous platform," Kusin said.

The campaign is led by "concerned alumni from the Class of 1997," according to the crowdfunding site. The original fundraising goal was $5,000, and has quickly hit $25,000 and climbing as of Friday. Donors to the cause have left an array of comments online from dedicated donations to inspirational quotes.

To counter Spencer’s hate speech, the group is raising money for the International Rescue Committee, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping refugees rebuild their lives. In Dallas, the group has helps roughly 1,200 refugees a year.

“He wants to expel all these non-white Europeans from this country,” Kusin said. “Our counter measure was supporting refugees coming in to this country.”

Spencer is expected to speak at the Texas A&M campus next month, but university officials said they did not invite him, adding in a statement that his views are in conflict with the school’s values.

"This is not politics. This is not about (the) right, this is not about (the) left. This about right and wrong. What Richard is espousing is wrong and it needs to be stopped."

David W. Dini, Headmaster at St. Mark's School of Texas released the following statement in Friday:

On Friday, November 18, in our annual Thanksgiving message to alumni, parents, and faculty, we referenced recent news stories that connect St. Mark’s to ideas expressed by one of our graduates that conflict directly with our core values and principles. Just one day later, video footage emerged of this alumnus leading a white nationalist meeting in Washington, D.C., bringing even greater attention to these hateful, divisive, racist, and anti-Semitic views. This has been deeply troubling and terribly upsetting to our whole school community. At St. Mark’s, we reject racism and bigotry in all its forms and expressions. Our mission, values, and programs stand in direct opposition to these vulgar ideas. In light of such comments, our mission to develop boys of strong character, compassion, empathy, and courage has increasing relevance and importance.

We are proud that many of our graduates, parents, students, and other community members are expressing their outrage and disgust toward these ideas; while at the same time, they are demonstrating support for the school they know and love. One of the great hallmarks of St. Mark's School of Texas is that we treat one another with great care and respect, honoring our important differences while at the same time focusing on the common values and principles that bind us together. We remain deeply committed to including and valuing all students of different backgrounds, races, religions, beliefs, and experiences, and our commitment to those ideals is paramount and immutable.

Thank you for your support.

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