A Black man who had taken control of one the largest neo-Nazi organizations, with hopes to dismantle it, has died.

James Stern passed away on October 11 at his home in California after being placed in hospice care for cancer, reports NBC. Stern, 55, served as the director and president of the National Socialist Movement (NSM), one of the hate groups involved in the 2017 attack in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Stern’s attorney, Bob Ross commended his “quiet confidence.”

"James was a very unconventional crusader," Ross said.

Stern’s close friend, Arne Edward List said the pastor and activist took control of the hate group in order to change its platform.

"His vision, which we talked about many times, wasn't to just take control of the website but to use it as a platform to re-educate racists about the truth of the Holocaust, the history of slavery," List said.

He was handed over the position by the former leader, Jeff Schoep, in January while the group’s core members were fighting over its leadership. The two met when Stern invited Schoep to attend a race summit in California. Both had connections to former KKK leader, Edgar Ray Killen who was convicted of the “Mississippi Burning” killings of three civil rights workers.

Schoep says Stern tricked him into handing over the group.

The former leader of the anti-semitic group wrote a letter to NSM members, and shared it with CNN, stating Stern had said: “in order to protect our membership from the ongoing lawsuit, I should sign over NSM's presidency to him.”

A research analyst from the Southern Poverty Law Center told CNN that NSM members were “completely blindsided” when Stern was announced director. Stern filed a lawsuit against other NSM members in March, regarding the official leadership of the organization, as Schoep had signed corporate records stating another name as the leader.

"He has that piece of paper, but he is absolutely not recognized as the leader of the National Socialist Movement," Schoep said of Stern in February.

Officials say Stern’s death does not end the debate, but it will be put on hold until his estate is settled.

"He fought with such courage in everything he did," List said. "James was very clear that this fight isn't going to die with him.”

He will be buried Tuesday in Inglewood, California.

Jeff Schoep

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